A unifying view of Gamma Ray Burst Afterglows
G. Ghisellini (1), M. Nardini (2), G. Ghirlanda (1), A. Celotti (2), ((1) INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, (2) SISSA, Trieste)

TL;DR
This paper presents a unified model for Gamma Ray Burst afterglows, combining forward shock emission with a phenomenological late prompt component, to explain diverse observational features and the prolonged activity of the central engine.
Contribution
It introduces a combined model for GRB afterglows that accounts for complex behaviors and long-lasting central engine activity using a phenomenological approach.
Findings
Good agreement with observed light curves despite complexity.
The late prompt emission decay matches fallback accretion rates (~t^{-5/3}).
Explains chromatic breaks and shallow jet break steepening.
Abstract
We selected a sample of 33 Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) detected by Swift, with known redshift and optical extinction at the host frame. For these, we constructed the de-absorbed and K-corrected X-ray and optical rest frame light curves. These are modelled as the sum of two components: emission from the forward shock due to the interaction of a fireball with the circum-burst medium and an additional component, treated in a completely phenomenological way. The latter can be identified, among other possibilities, as "late prompt" emission produced by a long lived central engine with mechanisms similar to those responsible for the production of the "standard" early prompt radiation. Apart from flares or re-brightenings, that we do not model, we find a good agreement with the data, despite of their complexity and diversity. Although based in part on a phenomenological model with a relatively…
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