Early steep optical decay linked to reverse shock for GRB200131A

TL;DR

This paper reports early optical observations of GRB 200131A showing a steep decay likely caused by a reverse shock, providing insights into the GRB's environment and redshift.

Contribution

First photometric observation of GRB 200131A's early afterglow revealing reverse shock characteristics and constraining its redshift.

Findings

Early optical decay consistent with reverse shock model

Redshift of approximately 0.9 estimated for the GRB

Minimal host galaxy extinction inferred from data

Abstract

We observed an optical afterglow of GRB 200131A obtaining the first photometric point 63 s after the satellite trigger. This early observation shows a steep decay, suggesting either internal engine activity or a reverse shock. By fitting this data set, we show that the early data fit well as a reverse shock component of the GRB afterglow modeled as a thin shell expanding into a constant density interstellar matter. The fitting also shows a good agreement with a catalogued Milky Way galactic extinction and leaves only little space for further extinction in the host galaxy. By judging several factors we conclude that the most likely redshift of this GRB is 0.9 +/- 0.1.