Fermi/GBM Observations of SGR J0501+4516 Bursts

TL;DR

This study analyzes 29 bursts from SGR J0501+4516 using Fermi/GBM data, revealing their durations, spectral characteristics, and flux evolution, and compares physical models to interpret the emission mechanisms.

Contribution

First detailed photon-space duration estimates for SGR bursts and comprehensive spectral modeling, including physical interpretation and comparison of models.

Findings

Burst durations follow a log-normal distribution (~124 ms).

Spectral fits favor a cutoff power law and two black body models.

Epeak decreases with flux, reaching ~30 keV at a certain flux level.

Abstract

We present our temporal and spectral analyses of 29 bursts from SGR J0501+4516, detected with the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope during the 13 days of the source activation in 2008 (August 22 to September 3). We find that the T90 durations of the bursts can be fit with a log-normal distribution with a mean value of ~ 123 ms. We also estimate for the first time event durations of Soft Gamma Repeater (SGR) bursts in photon space (i.e., using their deconvolved spectra) and find that these are very similar to the T90s estimated in count space (following a log-normal distribution with a mean value of ~ 124 ms). We fit the time-integrated spectra for each burst and the time-resolved spectra of the five brightest bursts with several models. We find that a single power law with an exponential cutoff model fits all 29 bursts well, while 18 of the events can also be fit with two black body functions. We expand on the physical interpretation of these two models and we compare their parameters and discuss their evolution. We show that the time-integrated and time-resolved spectra reveal that Epeak decreases with energy flux (and fluence) to a minimum of ~30 keV at F=8.7e-6 erg/cm2/s, increasing steadily afterwards. Two more sources exhibit a similar trend: SGRs J1550-5418 and 1806-20. The isotropic luminosity corresponding to these flux values is roughly similar for all sources (0.4-1.5 e40 erg/s).