Nearby SN-Associated GRB~190829A: Environment, Jet Structure, and VHE Gamma-Ray Afterglows

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive model explaining the prompt emission, afterglow, and VHE gamma-ray observations of the nearby low-luminosity GRB 190829A, highlighting the role of an e+-rich medium shell and jet structure.

Contribution

It introduces a self-consistent paradigm linking prompt gamma-ray features, medium interaction, and VHE emission, with specific predictions for GRB 190829A's environment and observables.

Findings

The prompt gamma-ray pulses are explained by interaction with a dusty medium.

The afterglow fits a forward shock model with an almost isotropic jet.

VHE gamma-ray emission matches H.E.S.S. observations and predicts detectability by future telescopes.

Abstract

We present a self-consistent paradigm for interpreting the striking features of nearby low-luminosity GRB~190829A. Its prompt gamma-ray lightcurve has two separated pulses. We propose that the interaction of the hard prompt gamma-ray photons ($E_p= 624_{-303}^{+2432}$ keV) of its initial pulse with the dusty medium ($A_{\rm V}=2.33$) does not only result in the second soft gamma-ray pulse ($E_p\sim 12$ keV), but also makes a pre-accelerated $e^{\pm}$-rich medium shell via the $\gamma\gamma$ annihilation.In this paradigm, we show that the observed radio, optical, and X-ray afterglow lightcurves are well fit with the forward shock model. Its jet is almost isotropic ($\theta_j>1.0$ rad) with a Lorentz factor of $\sim 35$, and the electron density of the $e^{\pm}$-rich medium shell is $\sim 15$ cm$^{-3}$, about 7~times higher than the electron density of its normal surrounding medium. The GRB ejecta catches up with and propagates into the $e^{\pm}$-rich medium shell at a region of $R=(4.07-6.46)\times 10^{16}~\rm cm$, resulting in a bright afterglow bump at $\sim 10^3$ seconds post the GRB trigger. The predicted very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from the synchrotron self-Compton process agrees with the H.E.S.S. observation. The derived broadband spectral energy distribution shows that GRB~190829A like nearby GRBs would be promising targets of the VHE gamma-ray telescopes, such as H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and CTA (Cherenkov Telescope Arrays).