Discoveries enabled by Multi-wavelength Afterglow Observations of Gamma-Ray Bursts

TL;DR

This paper reviews the diverse observational aspects of gamma-ray burst afterglows across multiple wavelengths, highlighting key discoveries and their implications for understanding these energetic cosmic events.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of multi-wavelength afterglow observations and the inferences drawn, emphasizing recent advances and unresolved questions.

Findings

Identification of prompt multiwavelength emission features

Characterization of dark bursts and spectral variability

Insights into jet breaks, X-ray flares, and polarization phenomena

Abstract

A review is given on the various aspects of gamma-ray burst afterglow observations, and the inferences derived from the data. After a short history of optical transient search and the BeppoSAX discoveries, the main topics included are prompt multiwavelength emission, dark bursts, spectral lines line and continuum variability, the early light curve behaviour, jet breaks, X-ray flares, late afterglow features, polarization, and orphan afterglows.