SHBs and a factor of 100 fainter than long-soft GRBs. These observations are consistent with the idea that short-hard GRBs are produced by a compact object merger.
|
GRB 051221a was a short-hard
gamma-ray burst detected by NASA's Swift
satellite on December 21 2005. The on-board follow-up instruments
quickly identfied an X-ray transient. Using the Gemini
Observatory GMOS instrument, we discovered the optical afterglow
coincident with the X-ray emission. We mounted a dedicated
optical monitoring campaign at Gemini to follow the optical transient
over the next 10 days. These observations enabled us to
determine the redshift of the burst, z=0.5464, making GRB051221a the
most distant short-hard burst to date (with a spectroscopic redshift
determination). Combining these optical data with radio and
X-ray observations, we were able to determine the total energy release,
which is comparable to those of other SHBs and a factor of 100 fainter than long-soft GRBs. These observations are consistent with the idea that short-hard GRBs are produced by a compact object merger. |
