Gamma-ray bursts and Population III stars

TL;DR

This paper reviews how gamma-ray bursts can serve as probes for studying the first stars, Population III, focusing on their formation, evolution, and potential observational signatures, while highlighting current uncertainties.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent theoretical models of Population III stars as GRB progenitors and discusses their unique observational signatures and remaining uncertainties.

Findings

Potential signatures in prompt emission and afterglow radiation.

Absorption spectra from surrounding intergalactic medium.

Remaining uncertainties in theoretical models.

Abstract

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are ideal probes of the epoch of the first stars and galaxies. We review the recent theoretical understanding of the formation and evolution of the first (so-called Population III) stars, in light of their viability of providing GRB progenitors. We proceed to discuss possible unique observational signatures of such bursts, based on the current formation scenario of long GRBs. These include signatures related to the prompt emission mechanism, as well as to the afterglow radiation, where the surrounding intergalactic medium might imprint a telltale absorption spectrum. We emphasize important remaining uncertainties in our emerging theoretical framework.