GRB 050315: A step toward the uniqueness of the overall GRB structure and the true nature of long GRBs

TL;DR

This paper uses Swift data of GRB 050315 to support a theoretical model of GRB structure, emphasizing the distinction between proper-GRBs and afterglows, and explores implications for classifying short and long GRBs.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical fit to Swift observations of GRB 050315, supporting a unified structure model for GRBs with implications for their classification.

Findings

Theoretical light curve fits over 10^6 seconds for GRB 050315.

Confirmation of a hard-to-soft spectral evolution throughout the afterglow.

Discussion on how instrumental thresholds influence GRB classification.

Abstract

Using the Swift data of GRB 050315, we progress on the uniqueness of our theoretically predicted Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) structure as composed by a proper-GRB (P-GRB), emitted at the transparency of an electron-positron plasma with suitable baryon loading, and an afterglow comprising the so called "prompt emission" as due to external shocks. Thanks to the Swift observations, we can theoretically fit detailed light curves for selected energy bands on a continuous time scale ranging over 10^6 seconds. The theoretically predicted instantaneous spectral distribution over the entire afterglow confirms a clear hard-to-soft behavior encompassing, continuously, the "prompt emission" all the way to the latest phases of the afterglow. Consequences of the instrumental threshold on the definition of "short" and "long" GRBs are discussed.