One Fits All: A Unified Synchrotron Model Explains GRBs with FRED-Shaped Pulses

TL;DR

This paper introduces a unified synchrotron model that explains the spectral and temporal evolution of single-pulse gamma-ray bursts using a consistent physical framework, successfully fitting time-resolved spectra with a single set of parameters.

Contribution

It presents a novel, self-consistent synchrotron model that explains GRB pulse evolution with a unified physical condition, linking spectral changes to emission region expansion.

Findings

Model fits all time-resolved spectra within each burst

Spectral evolution linked to magnetic field decay and electron cooling

Supports expansion of emission region as key to pulse evolution

Abstract

The analysis of gamma-ray burst (GRB) spectra often relies on empirical models lacking a distinct physical explanation. Previous attempts to couple physical models with observed data focus on individual burst studies, fitting models to segmented spectra with independent physical parameters. However, these approaches typically neglect to explain the time evolution of observed spectra. In this study, we propose a novel approach by incorporating the synchrotron radiation model to provide a self-consistent explanation for a selection of single-pulse GRBs. Our study comprehensively tests the synchrotron model under a unified physical condition, such as a single injection event of electrons. By tracing the evolution of cooling electrons in a decaying magnetic field, our model predicts time-dependent observed spectra that align well with the data. Using a single set of physical parameters, our model successfully fits all time-resolved spectra within each burst. Our model suggests that the rising phase of the GRB light curve results from the increasing number of radiating electrons, while the declining phase is attributed to the curvature effect, electron cooling, and the decaying magnetic field. Our model provides a straightforward interpretation of the peak energy's evolution, linked to the decline of the magnetic field and electron cooling due to the expansion of the GRB emission region. Our findings strongly support the notion that spectral and temporal evolution in GRB pulses originates from the expansion of the GRB emission region, with an initial radius of approximately $10^{15}$ cm, and synchrotron radiation as the underlying emission mechanism.