The Low-Energy Spectral Index of Gamma-Ray Burst Prompt Emission from Internal Shocks

TL;DR

This paper investigates how evolving magnetic fields in internal shocks of gamma-ray bursts can produce low-energy spectral indices consistent with observations, addressing a discrepancy in synchrotron radiation predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a model of magnetic field evolution during internal shocks that explains the observed low-energy spectral index in GRB prompt emission.

Findings

Magnetic field decay as B'∝ t^{-1} leads to realistic spectral indices.

A rising electron injection rate makes α reach -2/3 more easily.

The model successfully fits spectra of specific GRBs.

Abstract

The prompt emission of most gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) typically exhibits a non-thermal Band component. The synchrotron radiation in the popular internal shock model is generally put forward to explain such a non-thermal component. However, the low-energy photon index $\alpha \sim -1.5$ predicted by the synchrotron radiation is inconsistent with the observed value $\alpha \sim -1$. Here, we investigate the evolution of a magnetic field during propagation of internal shocks within an ultrarelativistic outflow, and revisit the fast cooling of shock-accelerated electrons via synchrotron radiation for this evolutional magnetic field. We find that the magnetic field is first nearly constant and then decays as $B'\propto t^{-1}$, which leads to a reasonable range of the low-energy photon index, $-3/2 < \alpha < -2/3$. In addition, if a rising electron injection rate during a GRB is introduced, we find that $\alpha$ reaches $-2/3$ more easily. We thus fit the prompt emission spectra of GRB 080916c and GRB~080825c.