Gravitational-wave memory from a propagating relativistic jet: a probe of the interior of gamma-ray burst progenitors

TL;DR

This paper proposes that gravitational-wave memory from relativistic jets in gamma-ray bursts can serve as a direct probe of the interior structure of their progenitors, offering insights inaccessible through electromagnetic observations.

Contribution

It introduces the idea that GW memory signals from jet-envelope interactions can reveal the internal environment of GRB progenitors, even if the jets are choked.

Findings

GW memory amplitude estimated at $h\sim10^{-26}-10^{-23}$

Detectability range includes sub-Hertz to tens of Hertz frequencies

Potential to probe jet propagation inside progenitors regardless of jet breakout

Abstract

It is believed that the relativistic jets of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) should initially propagate through a heavy envelope of the massive progenitor stars or through a merger ejecta formed from the compact binary mergers. The interaction of a jet with a stellar envelope or a merger ejecta can lead to the deceleration of the head material of the jet and simultaneously the formation of a hot cocoon. However, this jet-envelope/ejecta interaction is actually undetectable with electromagnetic radiation and can only be inferred indirectly by the structure of the breakout jet. Therefore, as a solution to this phenomenon, we suggest that the jet-envelope/ejecta interaction can produce a gravitational-wave (GW) memory of an amplitude of $h\sim10^{-26}-10^{-23}$, which could be detected with some future GW detectors sensitive in the frequency range from sub-Hertz to several tens of Hertz. This provides a potential direct way to probe the jet propagation and then the interior of the GRB progenitors. Moreover, this method is in principle available even if the jet is finally chocked in the stellar envelope or the merger ejecta.