Supernovae - Optical Precursors of Short Gamma-Ray Bursts

TL;DR

This paper estimates the likelihood of observing supernovae as optical precursors to short gamma-ray bursts, suggesting that many short GRBs may be preceded by supernova explosions in binary systems, with implications for understanding their origins.

Contribution

It proposes a model linking supernova explosions in binary systems to short GRBs and discusses the potential for observing these precursors, advancing the understanding of GRB progenitors.

Findings

Approximately 300 short GRBs with redshift z should have optical supernova precursors.

Supernova hypernova patterns could lead to observable sequences of long and short GRBs.

Multiple GRBs may originate from collapsing galactic nuclei, as discussed in the scenario.

Abstract

The probability of observing "supernova - gamma-ray burst" (GRB) pair events and recurrent GRBs from one galaxy in a time interval of several years has been estimated. Supernova explosions in binary systems accompanied by the formation of a short-lived pair of compact objects can be the sources of such events. If a short GRB is generated during the collision of a pair, then approximately each of ~300 short GRBs with redshift z must have an optical precursor - a supernova in the observer's time interval <2(1+z)yr. If the supernova explosion has the pattern of a hypernova, then a successive observation of long and short GRBs is possible. The scenario for the generation of multiple GRBs in collapsing galactic nuclei is also discussed.