Reply to: Three papers regarding the origin of GN-z11-flash

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the origin of a bright flash detected near galaxy GN-z11, concluding it was most likely a UV flash from a gamma-ray burst rather than a satellite or debris, based on comprehensive data analysis.

Contribution

The study provides a detailed re-evaluation of the flash's origin, favoring a gamma-ray burst explanation over satellite hypotheses with updated probability assessments.

Findings

GN-z11-flash is likely a UV flash from a gamma-ray burst.

Satellite origin probability is lower than the GRB hypothesis.

Previous satellite probability estimates may have been overestimated.

Abstract

In Jiang et al., we detected a bright flash (hereafter GN-z11-flash) that appeared as compact continuum emission during our Keck MOSFIRE observations of the galaxy GN-z11 at z ~ 11. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the origin of the flash using all available information and our current understanding of known man-made objects or moving objects in the solar system. We found that GN-z11-flash was likely a rest-frame UV flash associated with a long gamma-ray burst (GRB) from GN-z11. Recently, Steinhardt et al., Michalowski et al., and Nir et al. reported that GN-z11-flash was more likely from a satellite. While one cannot completely rule out the possibility of unknown satellites (or debris), we find that either the chance probabilities of being a satellite estimated by these authors have been largely overestimated or their identified satellites have been ruled out in our original analysis. Our new calculations show that the probability of GN-z11-flash being a satellite is still lower than that of it being a signal originated from GN-z11.