The prompt, high resolution spectroscopic view of the "naked-eye" GRB080319B

TL;DR

This study presents the highest resolution spectrum of a GRB afterglow, revealing detailed absorption features and excitation mechanisms, and inferring the structure and distance of absorbing gas in the host galaxy.

Contribution

First high-resolution, rapid-response spectroscopic observation of a bright GRB afterglow, capturing excited Fe II lines and analyzing the ISM structure and GRB environment.

Findings

Absorption features span 100 km/s with six components.

Strongest Fe II fine structure lines observed in a GRB.

Absorbing gas is located 2-6 kpc from the GRB, with structured ISM evidence.

Abstract

GRB080319B reached 5th optical magnitude during the burst prompt emission. Thanks to the VLT/UVES rapid response mode, we observed its afterglow just 8m:30s after the GRB onset when the magnitude was R ~ 12. This allowed us to obtain the best signal-to-noise, high resolution spectrum of a GRB afterglow ever (S/N per resolution element ~ 50). The spectrum is rich of absorption features belonging to the main system at z=0.937, divided in at least six components spanning a total velocity range of 100 km/s. The VLT/UVES observations caught the absorbing gas in a highly excited state, producing the strongest Fe II fine structure lines ever observed in a GRB. A few hours later the optical depth of these lines was reduced by a factor of 4-20, and the optical/UV flux by a factor of ~ 60. This proves that the excitation of the observed fine structure lines is due to "pumping" by the GRB UV photons. A comparison of the observed ratio between the number of photons absorbed by the excited state and those in the Fe II ground state suggests that the six absorbers are ~ 2-6 kpc from the GRB site, with component I ~ 3 times closer to the GRB site than components III to VI. Component I is characterized also by the lack of Mg I absorption, unlike all other components. This may be due both to a closer distance and a lower density, suggesting a structured ISM in this galaxy complex.