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EP250108a/SN 2025kg: A Jet-Driven Stellar Explosion Interacting With Circumstellar Material
Authors:
Gokul P. Srinivasaragavan,
Hamid Hamidani,
Genevieve Schroeder,
Nikhil Sarin,
Anna Y. Q. Ho,
Anthony L. Piro,
S. Bradley Cenko,
Shreya Anand,
Jesper Sollerman,
Daniel A. Perley,
Keiichi Maeda,
Brendan O'Connor,
Hanindyo Kuncarayakti,
M. Coleman Miller,
Tomás Ahumada,
Jada L. Vail,
Paul Duffell,
Ranadeep Ghosh Dastidar,
Igor Andreoni,
Aleksandra Bochenek,
Seán J. Brennan,
Jonathan Carney,
Ping Chen,
James Freeburn,
Avishay Gal-Yam
, et al. (6 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We present optical, radio, and X-ray observations of EP250108a/SN 2025kg, a broad-line Type Ic supernova (SN Ic-BL) accompanying an Einstein Probe (EP) fast X-ray transient (FXT) at $z=0.176$. EP250108a/SN 2025kg possesses a double-peaked optical light curve and its spectrum transitions from a blue underlying continuum to a typical SN Ic-BL spectrum over time. We fit a radioactive decay model to t…
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We present optical, radio, and X-ray observations of EP250108a/SN 2025kg, a broad-line Type Ic supernova (SN Ic-BL) accompanying an Einstein Probe (EP) fast X-ray transient (FXT) at $z=0.176$. EP250108a/SN 2025kg possesses a double-peaked optical light curve and its spectrum transitions from a blue underlying continuum to a typical SN Ic-BL spectrum over time. We fit a radioactive decay model to the second peak of the optical light curve and find SN parameters that are consistent with the SNe Ic-BL population, while its X-ray and radio properties are consistent with those of low-luminosity GRB (LLGRB) 060218/SN 2006aj. We explore three scenarios to understand the system's multi-wavelength emission -- (a) SN ejecta interacting with an extended circumstellar medium (CSM), (b) the shocked cocoon of a collapsar-driven jet choked in its stellar envelope, and (c) the shocked cocoon of a collapsar-driven jet choked in an extended CSM. Models (b) and (c) can explain the optical light curve and are also consistent with the radio and X-ray observations. We favor model (c) because it can self-consistently explain both the X-ray prompt emission and first optical peak, but we do not rule out model (b). From the properties of the first peak in model (c), we find evidence that EP250108a/SN 2025kg interacts with an extended CSM, and infer an envelope mass $M_{\rm e} \sim 0.1\,\rm M_\odot$ and radius $R_{\rm e} \sim 4 \times 10^{13}$ cm. EP250108a/SN 2025kg's multi-wavelength properties make it a close analog to LLGRB 060218/SN 2006aj, and highlight the power of early follow-up observations in mapping the environments of massive stars prior to core collapse.
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Submitted 8 July, 2025; v1 submitted 24 April, 2025;
originally announced April 2025.
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EP240414a: A Gamma-Ray Burst Jet Weakened by an Extended Circumstellar Material
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Yuri Sato,
Kazumi Kashiyama,
Masaomi Tanaka,
Kunihito Ioka,
Shigeo S. Kimura
Abstract:
The recent Einstein Probe (EP) event EP240414a exhibits several unusual observational features. Its prompt and afterglow emissions place it between long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) and low-luminosity GRBs (LLGRBs). The event is followed by a fast optical transient (AT 2024gsa), initially exhibiting a thermal-like spectrum but later evolving into an unusually red peak at $\sim 3-5$ days, which is diff…
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The recent Einstein Probe (EP) event EP240414a exhibits several unusual observational features. Its prompt and afterglow emissions place it between long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) and low-luminosity GRBs (LLGRBs). The event is followed by a fast optical transient (AT 2024gsa), initially exhibiting a thermal-like spectrum but later evolving into an unusually red peak at $\sim 3-5$ days, which is difficult to explain with thermal emission. Using our generalized analytic framework for jet propagation in a circumstellar material (CSM; Hamidani et al. 2025), we explore a scenario in which a conventional LGRB jet is launched in a progenitor surrounded by a dense CSM. For a CSM of $\sim 0.03 M_\odot$ extending to $\sim 3\times 10^{13}$ cm, we find that the jet is significantly weakened before breaking out, becoming "barely failed", an intermediate state between successful (LGRB) and completely failed (LLGRB) jets. This scenario naturally explains EP240414a's multi-wavelength observations, with the early thermal component produced by cocoon cooling emission, and the red peak explained by non-thermal afterglow emission from the mildly relativistic barely failed jet (and its inner-cocoon). Our work demonstrates the important role of extended CSM in shaping GRB jets and illustrates how early multi-wavelength follow-up observations can reveal the physically diverse nature of jet-driven transients.
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Submitted 26 May, 2025; v1 submitted 20 March, 2025;
originally announced March 2025.
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Gamma-Ray Burst Jets in Circumstellar Material: Dynamics, Breakout, and Diversity of Transients
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Kunihito Ioka,
Kazumi Kashiyama,
Masaomi Tanaka
Abstract:
Recent observations indicate that stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae are often surrounded by dense circumstellar material (CSM). Motivated by this, we develop an analytic model to systematically study the dynamics of long gamma-ray burst (LGRB) jet propagation in various CSM environments. We derive a general expression for the jet head velocity ($β_{\rm h}$) and breakout time ($t_{\rm b}$)…
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Recent observations indicate that stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae are often surrounded by dense circumstellar material (CSM). Motivated by this, we develop an analytic model to systematically study the dynamics of long gamma-ray burst (LGRB) jet propagation in various CSM environments. We derive a general expression for the jet head velocity ($β_{\rm h}$) and breakout time ($t_{\rm b}$) valid across Newtonian, relativistic, and intermediate regimes, accounting for a previously unrecognized dependence on $1 - β_{\rm h}$. Our results highlight a fundamental distinction between jet propagation in massive stars, where $β_{\rm h}\ll 1$, and in extended CSM, where $1-β_{\rm h}\ll 1$. We establish an analytic success/failure criterion for jets and express it in terms of jet and CSM parameters, revealing a strong dependence on CSM radius. To quantify the relativistic nature of the jet-cocoon system, we introduce the energy-weighted proper velocity $\overline{Γβ}$. We identify three possible jet outcomes-(a) successful jets ($\overline{Γβ} \sim 10-100$), (b) barely failed jets ($\overline{Γβ} \sim 1$), and (c) completely failed jets ($\overline{Γβ} \sim 0.1$)-and constrain their respective jet/CSM parameter spaces. We show that in (b) and (c), large CSM radii can result in luminous fast blue optical transients via cocoon cooling emission. This theoretical framework provides a basis for future observational and theoretical studies to understand the link between LGRBs, intermediate GRBs, low-luminosity LGRBs, and their environments.
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Submitted 26 May, 2025; v1 submitted 20 March, 2025;
originally announced March 2025.
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Prompt Periodicity in the GRB 211211A Precursor: Black-hole or magnetar engine?
Authors:
Gavin P. Lamb,
Thomas Baxter,
Conor M. B. Omand,
Dimple,
Zoë McGrath,
Cairns Turnbull,
Eric Burns,
Hamid Hamidani,
Ilya Mandel,
Kim L. Page,
Stephan Rosswog,
Nikhil Sarin,
Andrew Blain,
Laurence Datrier,
Shiho Kobayashi,
Andrew Levan,
Rhaana Starling,
Benjamin Gompertz,
Nusrin Habeeb,
Khang Nguyen,
Nial Tanvir
Abstract:
The merger origin long GRB 211211A was a class (re-)defining event. A precursor was identified with a $\sim 1$ s separation from the main burst, as well as a claimed candidate quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) with a frequency $\sim20$ Hz. Here, we explore the implications of the precursor, assuming the quasi-periodicity is real. The precursor variability timescale requires relativistic motion with…
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The merger origin long GRB 211211A was a class (re-)defining event. A precursor was identified with a $\sim 1$ s separation from the main burst, as well as a claimed candidate quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) with a frequency $\sim20$ Hz. Here, we explore the implications of the precursor, assuming the quasi-periodicity is real. The precursor variability timescale requires relativistic motion with a Lorentz factor $Γ\gtrsim80$, and implies an engine driven jetted outflow. The declining amplitude of the consecutive pulses requires an episodic engine with an `on/off' cycle consistent with the QPO. For a black-hole central engine, the QPO can have its origin in Lense-Thirring precession of the inner disk at $\sim6-9$ $r_g$ (gravitational radii) for a mass $M_\bullet\leq4.5$ $M_{\odot}$, and $\lesssim 7$ $r_g$ for $M_\bullet>4.5$ $M_{\odot}$ and dimensionless spin $χ\sim 0.3 - 0.9$. Alternatively, at a disk density of $\sim10^{8 - 12}$ g cm$^{-3}$, the required magnetic field strength for a QPO via magnetohydrodynamic effects will be on the order $B\sim10^{12 - 14}$ G. If the central engine is a short lived magnetar or hypermassive neutron star, then a low-frequency QPO can be produced via instabilities within the disk at a radius of $\sim20 - 70$ km, for a disk density $\sim10^{9 - 12}$ g cm$^{-3}$ and magnetic field $\gtrsim10^{13 - 14}$ G. The QPO cannot be coupled to the neutron star spin, as the co-rotation radius is beyond the scale of the disk. Neither engine can be ruled out -- however, we favour an origin for the precursor candidate QPO as early jet-disk coupling for a neutron star -- black hole merger remnant with mass $M_\bullet>4.5$ $M_{\odot}$.
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Submitted 30 May, 2025; v1 submitted 19 March, 2025;
originally announced March 2025.
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GRB 211211A: The Case for an Engine Powered over r-Process Powered Blue Kilonova
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Masaomi Tanaka,
Shigeo S. Kimura,
Gavin P. Lamb,
Kyohei Kawaguchi
Abstract:
The recent Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) GRB 211211A provides the earliest ($\sim 5$ h) data of a kilonova (KN) event, displaying bright ($\sim10^{42}$ erg s$^{-1}$) and blue early emission. Previously, this KN has been explained using simplistic multi-component fitting methods. Here, in order to understand the physical origin of the KN emission in GRB 211211A, we employ an analytic multi-zone model for r…
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The recent Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) GRB 211211A provides the earliest ($\sim 5$ h) data of a kilonova (KN) event, displaying bright ($\sim10^{42}$ erg s$^{-1}$) and blue early emission. Previously, this KN has been explained using simplistic multi-component fitting methods. Here, in order to understand the physical origin of the KN emission in GRB 211211A, we employ an analytic multi-zone model for r-process powered KN. We find that r-process powered KN models alone cannot explain the fast temporal evolution and the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the observed emission. Specifically, i) r-process models require high ejecta mass to match early luminosity, which overpredicts late-time emission, while ii) red KN models that reproduce late emission underpredict early luminosity. We propose an alternative scenario involving early contributions from the GRB central engine via a late low-power jet, consistent with plateau emission in short GRBs and GeV emission detected by Fermi-LAT at $\sim10^4$ s after GRB 211211A. Such late central engine activity, with an energy budget of $\sim \text{a few }\%$ of that of the prompt jet, combined with a single red-KN ejecta component, can naturally explain the light curve and SED of the observed emission; with the late-jet -- ejecta interaction reproducing the early blue emission and r-process heating reproducing the late red emission. This supports claims that late low-power engine activity after prompt emission may be common. We encourage very early follow-up observations of future nearby GRBs, and compact binary merger events, to reveal more about the central engine of GRBs and r-process events.
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Submitted 7 August, 2024; v1 submitted 20 June, 2024;
originally announced June 2024.
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High-energy neutrinos from late-time jets of gamma-ray bursts seeded with cocoon photons
Authors:
Riki Matsui,
Shigeo S Kimura,
Hamid Hamidani
Abstract:
In gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), $\sim$ 100 - 1000 s after the prompt emission, afterglow observations have consistently shown X-ray excesses detected in the form of flares (XFs; in long GRBs) or extended emission (EEs; in short GRBs). These observations are interpreted as emissions from jets launched by late central engine activity. However, the characteristics of these late-time jets, particularly th…
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In gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), $\sim$ 100 - 1000 s after the prompt emission, afterglow observations have consistently shown X-ray excesses detected in the form of flares (XFs; in long GRBs) or extended emission (EEs; in short GRBs). These observations are interpreted as emissions from jets launched by late central engine activity. However, the characteristics of these late-time jets, particularly the dissipation radius ($r_{\rm diss}$), Lorentz factor ($Γ$), and cosmic-ray loading factor ($ξ_p$), remain unknown despite their importance. Here, in order to understand the properties of the late-time jets with future multi-messenger observations, we estimate the detectability of neutrinos associated with late-time emissions for a wide range of $r_{\rm diss}$ and $Γ$, assuming $ξ_p=10$. We take into account external seed photons from the cocoon around the jets, which can enhance the neutrino production through photohadronic interaction in the jet dissipation region. Our results are still consistent with the upper limit obtained by IceCube. Our calculations indicate a promising prospect for neutrino detection with IceCube-Gen2 through the stacking of $\sim 1000-2000$ events, for a wide range of $r_{\rm diss}$ and $Γ$. We found that setting an optimal energy threshold of 10 TeV can significantly reduce noise without negatively affecting neutrino detection. Furthermore, even in the case of non-detection, we show that meaningful constraints on the characteristics of the late-time jets can be obtained.
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Submitted 16 May, 2024; v1 submitted 13 May, 2024;
originally announced May 2024.
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Three dimensional end-to-end simulation for kilonova emission from a black-hole neutron-star merger
Authors:
Kyohei Kawaguchi,
Nanae Domoto,
Sho Fujibayashi,
Hamid Hamidani,
Kota Hayashi,
Masaru Shibata,
Masaomi Tanaka,
Shinya Wanajo
Abstract:
We study long-term evolution of the matter ejected in a black-hole neutron-star (BH-NS) merger employing the results of a long-term numerical-relativity simulation and nucleosynthesis calculation, in which both dynamical and post-merger ejecta formation is consistently followed. In particular, we employ the results for the merger of a $1.35\,M_\odot$ NS and a $5.4\,M_\odot$ BH with the dimensionle…
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We study long-term evolution of the matter ejected in a black-hole neutron-star (BH-NS) merger employing the results of a long-term numerical-relativity simulation and nucleosynthesis calculation, in which both dynamical and post-merger ejecta formation is consistently followed. In particular, we employ the results for the merger of a $1.35\,M_\odot$ NS and a $5.4\,M_\odot$ BH with the dimensionless spin of 0.75. We confirm the finding in the previous studies that thermal pressure induced by radioactive heating in the ejecta significantly modifies the morphology of the ejecta. We then compute the kilonova (KN) light curves employing the ejecta profile obtained by the long-term evolution. We find that our present BH-NS model results in a KN light curve that is fainter yet more enduring than that observed in AT2017gfo. This is due to the fact that the emission is primarily powered by the lanthanide-rich dynamical ejecta, in which a long photon diffusion time scale is realized by the large mass and high opacity. While the peak brightness of the KN emission in both the optical and near-infrared bands is fainter than or comparable to those of binary NS models, the time-scale maintaining the peak brightness is much longer in the near-infrared band for the BH-NS KN model. Our result indicates that a BH-NS merger with massive ejecta can observationally be identified by the long lasting ($>$two weeks) near-infrared emission.
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Submitted 29 November, 2024; v1 submitted 23 April, 2024;
originally announced April 2024.
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Possible X-ray Cocoon Emission from GRB 050709
Authors:
Naoki Ogino,
Makoto Arimoto,
Hamid Hamidani,
Takanori Sakamoto,
Daisuke Yonetoku,
Tatsuya Sawano,
Motoko Serino,
Katsuaki Asano,
Nobuyuki Kawai
Abstract:
The detection of the short gamma-ray burst (SGRB) 050709 by the HETE-2 satellite opened a new window into understanding the nature of SGRBs, offering clues about their emission mechanism and progenitors, with the crucial aid of optical follow-up observations. Here, we revisit the prompt emission of GRB 050709. Our analysis reveals an initial hard spike ~200 ms long, followed by a subsequent soft t…
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The detection of the short gamma-ray burst (SGRB) 050709 by the HETE-2 satellite opened a new window into understanding the nature of SGRBs, offering clues about their emission mechanism and progenitors, with the crucial aid of optical follow-up observations. Here, we revisit the prompt emission of GRB 050709. Our analysis reveals an initial hard spike ~200 ms long, followed by a subsequent soft tail emission lasting ~300 ms. These components could be common among other SGRBs originating from binary neutron merger events, such as GW/GRB 170817A. Detailed temporal and spectral analyses indicate that the soft tail emission might be attributed to the cocoon formed by the relativistic jet depositing energy into the surrounding material. We find the necessary cocoon parameters at the breakout, as consistent with numerical simulation results. We compared the physical parameters of this cocoon with those of other SGRBs. The relatively higher cocoon pressure and temperature in GRB 050709 may indicate a more on-axis jet compared to GRB 170817A and GRB 150101B.
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Submitted 3 April, 2024;
originally announced April 2024.
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Peak energy--Isotropic Luminosity Correlation and Jet Opening Angle Evolution in Swift-BAT Short GRBs with Soft Tail Emission
Authors:
Naoki Ogino,
Daisuke Yonetoku,
Makoto Arimoto,
Tatsuya Sawano,
Hamid Hamidani
Abstract:
Some short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs) exhibit a short duration and spectral hard emission (referred to as a "hard spike") followed by a slightly longer soft emission (known as a "soft tail"). We identified nine SGRBs with known redshift in the \textit{Swift}/BAT gamma-ray burst catalog by specifically searching for the soft tail. We found that spectra of these SGRBs can be described as a cutoff powe…
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Some short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs) exhibit a short duration and spectral hard emission (referred to as a "hard spike") followed by a slightly longer soft emission (known as a "soft tail"). We identified nine SGRBs with known redshift in the \textit{Swift}/BAT gamma-ray burst catalog by specifically searching for the soft tail. We found that spectra of these SGRBs can be described as a cutoff power-law model for both hard spike and soft tail, and both show time variation keeping the $E_{\rm peak}$--$L_{\rm iso}$ correlation. This suggests that the emission mechanism of both phenomena is identical. Furthermore, we found a trend of luminosity evolution as a function of redshift. This phenomenon suggests that these bursts originate from sources that have intrinsically bright and/or energy density concentrated within a narrower jet at higher redshift. We demonstrate that the average jet opening angle, derived from the jet break, can be explained by considering a model based on a strongly redshift-dependent jet opening angle.
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Submitted 15 March, 2024;
originally announced March 2024.
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Late Engine Activity in Neutron Star Mergers and Its Cocoon: An Alternative Scenario for the Blue Kilonova
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Shigeo S. Kimura,
Masaomi Tanaka,
Kunihito Ioka
Abstract:
Follow-up observations of short gamma-ray bursts (sGRBs) have continuously unveiled late extended/plateau emissions, attributed to jet launch due to late engine activity, the nature of which remains enigmatic. Observations of GW170817 confirmed that sGRBs are linked to neutron star (NS) mergers, and discovered a kilonova (KN) transient. Nevertheless, the origin of the early "blue" KN in GW170817 r…
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Follow-up observations of short gamma-ray bursts (sGRBs) have continuously unveiled late extended/plateau emissions, attributed to jet launch due to late engine activity, the nature of which remains enigmatic. Observations of GW170817 confirmed that sGRBs are linked to neutron star (NS) mergers, and discovered a kilonova (KN) transient. Nevertheless, the origin of the early "blue" KN in GW170817 remains unclear. Here, we investigate the propagation of late jets in the merger ejecta. By analytically modeling jet dynamics, we determine the properties of the jet heated cocoon, and estimate its cooling emission. Our results reveal that late jets generate significantly brighter cocoons compared to prompt jets, primarily due to reduced energy loss by adiabatic cooling. Notably, with typical late jets, emission from the cocoon trapped inside the ejecta can reproduce the blue KN emission. We estimate that the forthcoming Einstein Probe mission will detect the early cocoon emission with a rate of $\sim 2.1_{-1.6}^{+3.2}$ yr$^{-1}$, and that optical/UV follow-ups in the LIGO-VIRGO-KAGRA O5 run will be able to detect $\sim 1.0_{-0.7}^{+1.5}$ cocoon emission events. As an electromagnetic counterpart, this emission provides an independent tool to probe NS mergers in the Universe, complementing insights from sGRBs and gravitational waves.
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Submitted 25 January, 2024; v1 submitted 11 December, 2023;
originally announced December 2023.
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A search for extragalactic fast optical transients in the Tomo-e Gozen high-cadence survey
Authors:
Kakeru Oshikiri,
Masaomi Tanaka,
Nozomu Tominaga,
Tomoki Morokuma,
Ichiro Takahashi,
Yusuke Tampo,
Hamid Hamidani,
Noriaki Arima,
Ko Arimatsu,
Toshihiro Kasuga,
Naoto Kobayashi,
Sohei Kondo,
Yuki Mori,
Yuu Niino,
Ryou Ohsawa,
Shin-ichiro Okumura,
Shigeyuki Sako,
Hidenori Takahashi
Abstract:
The population of optical transients evolving within a time-scale of a few hours or a day (so-called fast optical transients, FOTs) has recently been debated extensively. In particular, our understanding of extragalactic FOTs and their rates is limited. We present a search for extragalactic FOTs with the Tomo-e Gozen high-cadence survey. Using the data taken from 2019 August to 2022 June, we obtai…
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The population of optical transients evolving within a time-scale of a few hours or a day (so-called fast optical transients, FOTs) has recently been debated extensively. In particular, our understanding of extragalactic FOTs and their rates is limited. We present a search for extragalactic FOTs with the Tomo-e Gozen high-cadence survey. Using the data taken from 2019 August to 2022 June, we obtain 113 FOT candidates. Through light curve analysis and cross-matching with other survey data, we find that most of these candidates are in fact supernovae, variable quasars, and Galactic dwarf novae, that were partially observed around their peak brightness. We find no promising candidate of extragalactic FOTs. From this non-detection, we obtain upper limits on the event rate of extragalactic FOTs as a function of their time-scale. For a very luminous event (absolute magnitude $M<-26$ mag), we obtain the upper limits of $4.4 \times 10^{-9}$ Mpc$^{-3}$ yr$^{-1}$ for a time-scale of 4 h, and $7.4 \times 10^{-10}$ Mpc$^{-3}$ yr$^{-1}$ for a time-scale of 1 d. Thanks to our wide (although shallow) surveying strategy, our data are less affected by the cosmological effects, and thus, give one of the more stringent limits to the event rate of intrinsically luminous transients with a time-scale of $< 1$ d.
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Submitted 1 November, 2023; v1 submitted 16 October, 2023;
originally announced October 2023.
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Cocoon cooling emission in neutron star mergers
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Kunihito Ioka
Abstract:
In the gravitational wave event GW170817, there was a $\sim 10$ hours gap before electromagnetic (EM) observations, without detection of the cocoon. The cocoon is heated by a \textit{short} gamma-ray burst (\textit{s}GRB) jet propagating through the ejecta of a Neutron Star (NS) merger, and a part of the cocoon escapes the ejecta with an opening angle of $20^{\circ}$--$30^{\circ}$. Here we model t…
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In the gravitational wave event GW170817, there was a $\sim 10$ hours gap before electromagnetic (EM) observations, without detection of the cocoon. The cocoon is heated by a \textit{short} gamma-ray burst (\textit{s}GRB) jet propagating through the ejecta of a Neutron Star (NS) merger, and a part of the cocoon escapes the ejecta with an opening angle of $20^{\circ}$--$30^{\circ}$. Here we model the cocoon and calculate its EM emission. Our 2D hydrodynamic simulations suggest that the density and energy distributions, after entering homologous expansion, are well-fitted with power-law functions, in each of the relativistic and non-relativistic parts of the escaped cocoon. Modeling these features, we calculate the cooling emission analytically. We find that the cocoon outshines the r-process kilonova/macronova at early times (10--10$^{3}$ s), peaking at UV bands. The relativistic velocity of the cocoon's photosphere is measurable with instruments such as Swift, ULTRASAT and LSST. We also imply that energetic cocoons, including failed jets, might be detected as X-ray flashes. Our model clarifies the physics and parameter dependence, covering a wide variety of central engines and ejecta of NS mergers and \textit{s}GRBs in the multi-messenger era.
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Submitted 26 June, 2023; v1 submitted 5 October, 2022;
originally announced October 2022.
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Cocoon breakout and escape from the ejecta of neutron star mergers
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Kunihito Ioka
Abstract:
The cocoon is an inevitable product of a jet propagating through ambient matter, and takes a fair fraction of the jet energy. In short gamma-ray bursts, the ambient matter is the ejecta from the merger of neutron stars, expanding with a high velocity $\sim 0.2 c$, in contrast to the static stellar envelope in collapsars. Using 2D relativistic hydrodynamic simulations with the ejecta density profil…
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The cocoon is an inevitable product of a jet propagating through ambient matter, and takes a fair fraction of the jet energy. In short gamma-ray bursts, the ambient matter is the ejecta from the merger of neutron stars, expanding with a high velocity $\sim 0.2 c$, in contrast to the static stellar envelope in collapsars. Using 2D relativistic hydrodynamic simulations with the ejecta density profile as $ρ\propto r^{-2}$, we find that the expansion makes a big difference; only 0.5--5\% of the cocoon mass escapes from (faster than) the ejecta, with an opening angle $20^{\circ}$--$30^{\circ}$, while it is $\sim 100\%$ and spherical in collapsars. We also analytically obtain the shares of mass and energies for the escaped and trapped cocoons. Because the mass of the escaped cocoon is small and the trapped cocoon is concealed by the ejecta and the escaped cocoon, we conclude that it is unlikely that the cocoon emission was observed as a counterpart to the gravitational wave event GW170817.
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Submitted 24 October, 2022; v1 submitted 3 October, 2022;
originally announced October 2022.
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Jet Propagation in Expanding Medium for Gamma-Ray Bursts
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Kunihito Ioka
Abstract:
The binary neutron star (BNS) merger event GW170817 clearly shows that a BNS merger launches a short Gamma-Ray Burst (sGRB) jet. Unlike collapsars, where the ambient medium is static, in BNS mergers the jet propagates through the merger ejecta that is expanding outward at substantial velocities ($\sim 0.2c$). Here, we present semi-analytic and analytic models to solve the propagation of GRB jets t…
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The binary neutron star (BNS) merger event GW170817 clearly shows that a BNS merger launches a short Gamma-Ray Burst (sGRB) jet. Unlike collapsars, where the ambient medium is static, in BNS mergers the jet propagates through the merger ejecta that is expanding outward at substantial velocities ($\sim 0.2c$). Here, we present semi-analytic and analytic models to solve the propagation of GRB jets through their surrounding media. These models improve our previous model by including the jet collimation by the cocoon self-consistently. We also perform a series of 2D numerical simulations of jet propagation in BNS mergers and in collapsars to test our models. Our models are consistent with numerical simulations in every aspect (the jet head radius, the cocoon's lateral width, the jet opening angle including collimation, the cocoon pressure, and the jet-cocoon morphology). The energy composition of the cocoon is found to be different depending on whether the ambient medium is expanding or not; in the case of BNS merger jets, the cocoon energy is dominated by kinetic energy, while it is dominated by internal energy in collapsars. Our model will be useful for estimating electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational waves.
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Submitted 21 October, 2020; v1 submitted 21 July, 2020;
originally announced July 2020.
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Jet Propagation in Neutron Star Mergers and GW170817
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Kenta Kiuchi,
Kunihito Ioka
Abstract:
The gravitational wave event from the binary neutron star (BNS) merger GW170817 and the following multi-messenger observations present strong evidence for i) merger ejecta expanding with substantial velocities and ii) a relativistic jet which had to propagate through the merger ejecta. The ejecta's expansion velocity is not negligible for the jet head motion, which is a fundamental difference from…
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The gravitational wave event from the binary neutron star (BNS) merger GW170817 and the following multi-messenger observations present strong evidence for i) merger ejecta expanding with substantial velocities and ii) a relativistic jet which had to propagate through the merger ejecta. The ejecta's expansion velocity is not negligible for the jet head motion, which is a fundamental difference from the other systems like collapsars and active galactic nuclei. Here we present an analytic model of the jet propagation in an expanding medium. In particular, we notice a new term in the expression of the breakout time and velocity. In parallel, we perform a series of over a hundred 2D numerical simulations of jet propagation. The BNS merger ejecta is prepared based on numerical relativity simulations of a BNS merger with the highest-resolution to date. We show that our analytic results agree with numerical simulations over a wide parameter space. Then we apply our analytic model to GW170817, and obtain two solid constraints on: i) the central engine luminosity as $L_{iso,0} \sim 3\times10^{49}-2.5\times10^{52}$ erg s$^{-1}$, and on ii) the delay time between the merger and engine activation $t_0-t_m < 1.3$ s. The engine power implies that the apparently-faint \textit{short} gamma-ray burst (\textit{s}GRB) \textit{s}GRB 170817A is similar to typical \textit{s}GRBs if observed on-axis.
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Submitted 17 November, 2019; v1 submitted 12 September, 2019;
originally announced September 2019.
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Ideal Engine Durations For Gamma-Ray-Burst-Jet Launch
Authors:
Hamid Hamidani,
Koh Takahashi,
Hideyuki Umeda,
Shinpei Okita
Abstract:
Aiming to study GRB engine duration, we present numerical simulations to investigate collapsar jets. We consider typical explosion energy ($10^{52}$ erg) but different engine durations, in the widest domain to date from 0.1 to 100 s. We employ an AMR 2D hydrodynamical code. Our results show that engine duration strongly influences jet nature. We show that the efficiency of launching and collimatin…
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Aiming to study GRB engine duration, we present numerical simulations to investigate collapsar jets. We consider typical explosion energy ($10^{52}$ erg) but different engine durations, in the widest domain to date from 0.1 to 100 s. We employ an AMR 2D hydrodynamical code. Our results show that engine duration strongly influences jet nature. We show that the efficiency of launching and collimating relativistic outflow increases with engine duration, until the intermediate engine range where it is the highest, past this point to long engine range, the trend is slightly reversed; we call this point where acceleration and collimation are the highest "sweet spot" ($\sim$10 -- 30 s). Moreover, jet energy flux shows that variability is also high in this duration domain. We argue that not all engine durations can produce the collimated, relativistic and variable long GRB-jets. Considering a typical progenitor and engine energy, we conclude that the ideal engine duration to reproduce a long GRB is $\sim$10 -- 30 s, where the launch of relativistic, collimated and variable jets is favored. We note that this duration domain makes a good link with Lazzati et al. (2013), which suggested that the bulk of BATSE's long GRBs is powered by $\sim$10 -- 20 s collapsar engines.
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Submitted 4 July, 2017;
originally announced July 2017.