Numerical simulations of internal shocks in spherical geometry: hydrodynamics and prompt emission

TL;DR

This paper uses hydrodynamical simulations to analyze internal shocks in spherical geometry, explaining features of gamma-ray burst prompt emission and how shock evolution affects observed spectra.

Contribution

It extends previous planar hydrodynamics models to spherical geometry using simulations, providing new insights into shock evolution and emission in GRBs.

Findings

Shock strength decreases with radius in spherical geometry.

Peak frequency decreases faster than in previous models.

Peak flux saturates for moderately short pulses.

Abstract

Among the models used to explain the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), internal shocks is a leading one. Its most basic ingredient is a collision between two cold shells of different Lorentz factors in an ultra-relativistic outflow, which forms a pair of shock fronts that accelerate electrons in their wake. In this model, key features of GRB prompt emission such as the doubly-broken power-law spectral shape arise naturally from the optically-thin synchrotron emission at both shock fronts. We investigate the internal shocks model as a mechanism for prompt emission based on a full hydrodynamical analytic derivation in planar geometry, extending this approach to spherical geometry using hydrodynamic simulations. We used the moving mesh relativistic hydrodynamics code \texttt{GAMMA} to study the collision of two ultra-relativistic cold shells of equal kinetic energy (and power). Using the built-in shock detection, we calculate the corresponding synchrotron emission by the relativistic electrons accelerated into a power-law energy distribution behind the shock, in the fast cooling regime.}During the first dynamical time after the collision, the spherical effects cause the shock strength to decrease with radius. The observed peak frequency decreases faster than expected by other models in the rising part of the pulse, and the peak flux saturates even for moderately short pulses. This is likely caused by the very sharp edges of the shells in our model, while smoother edges will probably mitigate this effect. Our model traces the evolution of the peak frequency back to the source activity time scales.