| Strong NIR emission following a long duration GRB: Neutron Star merger or Dust sublimation? |
| Eli Waxman, Weizmann Institute |
| Event Type: Astro Seminar |
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| Time: 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM |
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| Location: 726 Broadway, 940, CCPP Seminar |
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| Abstract: The prolonged near infrared (NIR) emission observed following the long duration gamma-ray burst GRB211211A is inconsistent with afterglow emission from the shock driven into the circum-stellar medium (CSM), and with emission from a possible underlying supernova. It has therefore been suggested that the observed NIR flux is the signature of a "kilonova" - a radioactive ejecta produced in a binary neutron star merger. An alternative explanation will be presented in this talk. I will show that the NIR flux is consistent with thermal emission from dust, heated by UV and X-ray radiation produced by the interaction of the GRB jet plasma with the CSM. Such NIR emission was predicted by Waxman & Draine for GRBs residing near or within massive molecular clouds, and may be detectable in other long bright GRBs. Link to the Event Video |