On the Environment of Short Gamma-ray Bursts

TL;DR

This study analyzes 10 short gamma-ray bursts with known redshifts, examining their absorption, host galaxy offsets, and afterglow properties to understand their environments and progenitors.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the absorption characteristics, host galaxy offsets, and afterglow durations of short GRBs, challenging previous assumptions about their progenitors.

Findings

Intrinsic absorption is present in short GRBs.

No correlation between absorption and host galaxy offset.

X-ray afterglow duration is not a definitive progenitor indicator.

Abstract

In this paper we present a sample of 10 short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with a robust redshift determination, discovered by the Swift satellite up to January 2011. We measure their X-ray absorbing column densities and collect data on the host galaxy offsets. We find evidence for intrinsic absorption and no correlation between the intrinsic absorbing column density and the projected offset of the GRB from its host galaxy center. We find that the properties in the gamma regime (T90, fluence and 1-s peak photon flux) of short GRBs with "bright" and "faint" X-ray afterglow likely disfavour different prompt emission mechanisms. Host galaxy offset and GRB duration (T90) do not correlate. Instead, there is a hint of anti-correlation between the effective radius normalised host galaxy offset and T90. Finally, we examine the properties of short GRBs with short-lived and long-lived X-ray afterglows, finding that some short GRBs with short-lived X-ray afterglows have their optical afterglow detected. In light of this, the X-ray afterglow duration does not seem to be an unique indicator of a specific progenitor and/or environment for short GRBs.