The X-ray, optical, and infrared counterpart to GRB 980703

  • P. M. Vreeswijk*
  • , T. J. Galama
  • , A. Owens
  • , T. Oosterbroek
  • , T. R. Geballe
  • , J. Van Paradijs
  • , P. J. Groot
  • , C. Kouveliotou
  • , T. Koshut
  • , N. Tanvir
  • , R. A.M.J. Wijers
  • , E. Pian
  • , E. Palazzi
  • , F. Frontera
  • , N. Masetti
  • , C. Robinson
  • , M. Briggs
  • , J. J.M. In 'T Zand
  • , J. Heise
  • , L. Piro
  • E. Costa, M. Feroci, L. A. Antonelli, K. Hurley, J. Greiner, D. A. Smith, A. M. Levine, Y. Lipkin, E. Leibowitz, C. Lidman, A. Pizzella, H. Böhnhardt, V. Doublier, S. Chaty, I. Smail, A. Blain, J. H. Hough, S. Young, N. Suntzeff
*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report on X-ray, optical, and infrared follow-up observations of GRB 980703. We detect a previously unknown X-ray source in the GRB error box; assuming a power-law decline, we find for its decay index α < -0.91 (3 σ). We invoke host-galaxy extinction to match the observed spectral slope with the slope expected from "fireball" models. We find no evidence for a spectral break in the infrared to X-ray spectral range on 1998 July 4.4, and determine a lower limit of the cooling break frequency, vc > 1.3 × 1017 Hz. For this epoch we obtain an extinction of AV = 1.50 ± 0.11. From the X-ray data we estimate the optical extinction to be AV = 20.2-7.3+12.3, inconsistent with the former value. Our optical spectra confirm the redshift of z = 0.966. We compare the afterglow of GRB 980703 with that of GRB 970508 and find that the fraction of the energy in the magnetic field, ∈B < 6 × 10-5, is much lower in the case of GRB 980703, as a consequence of the high frequency of the cooling break.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)171-176
Number of pages6
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume523
Issue number1 PART 1
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Sep 1999

Keywords

  • Gamma rays: bursts
  • Infrared: galaxies
  • Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
  • X-rays: galaxies

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