The Anticipated Supernova Associated with GRB090618

TL;DR

This paper predicts the emergence of a supernova similar to SN1998bw associated with GRB090618 using the cannonball model, providing detailed lightcurve forecasts and potential observational signatures.

Contribution

It applies the cannonball model to predict the optical and X-ray afterglow lightcurves and supernova signature of GRB090618, offering specific observational forecasts.

Findings

Predicted supernova peak brightness of magnitude 23 in R band.

Expected optical and X-ray lightcurve evolution until late times.

Identification of spectroscopic signatures of the supernova.

Abstract

We use the cannonball model of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and public data from the first day of observations of GRB 090618 to predict its X-ray and optical lightcurves until very late times, and, in particular, the emergence of a photometric and spectroscopic signature of an SN akin to SN1998bw in its optical afterglow with an anticipated peak brightness of magnitude 23 in the R band around July 10, 2009, if extinction in the host galaxy can be neglected.