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Title: Limits on gamma-ray burst prompt radio emission using the LWA1

Abstract

As a backend to the first station of the Long Wavelength Array (LWA1), the Prototype All Sky Imager has been imaging the sky > –26° declination during 34 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) between 2012 January and 2013 May. Using this data, we were able to put the most stringent limits to date on prompt low-frequency emission from GRBs. While our limits depend on the zenith angle of the observed GRB, we estimate a 1σ rms sensitivity of 68, 65, and 70 Jy for 5 s integrations at 37.9, 52.0, and 74.0 MHz at zenith. These limits are relevant for pulses ≥5 s and are limited by dispersion smearing. For 5 s pulses, we are limited to dispersion measures (DMs) ≤ 220, 570, and 1600 pc cm{sup –3} for the frequencies above. For pulses lasting longer than 5 s, the DM limits increase linearly with the duration of the pulse. We also report two interesting transients, which are, as of yet, of unknown origin and are not coincident with any known GRBs. For general transients, we give rate density limits of ≤7.5 × 10{sup –3}, 2.9 × 10{sup –2}, and 1.4 × 10{sup –2} yr{sup –1} deg{sup –2} with pulse energy densitiesmore » >1.3 × 10{sup –22}, 1.1 × 10{sup –22}, and 1.4 × 10{sup –22} J m{sup –2} Hz{sup –1} and pulse widths of 5 s at the frequencies given above.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 (United States)
  2. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91109 (United States)
  3. US Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7213, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22357196
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 785; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS; DENSITY; DISPERSIONS; EMISSION; ENERGY DENSITY; IMAGES; MHZ RANGE; PULSES; SENSITIVITY; TRANSIENTS; WAVELENGTHS

Citation Formats

Obenberger, K. S., Taylor, G. B., Craig, J., Dowell, J., Henning, P. A., Schinzel, F. K., Hartman, J. M., Helmboldt, J. F., and Wilson, T. L. Limits on gamma-ray burst prompt radio emission using the LWA1. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/27.
Obenberger, K. S., Taylor, G. B., Craig, J., Dowell, J., Henning, P. A., Schinzel, F. K., Hartman, J. M., Helmboldt, J. F., & Wilson, T. L. Limits on gamma-ray burst prompt radio emission using the LWA1. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/27
Obenberger, K. S., Taylor, G. B., Craig, J., Dowell, J., Henning, P. A., Schinzel, F. K., Hartman, J. M., Helmboldt, J. F., and Wilson, T. L. 2014. "Limits on gamma-ray burst prompt radio emission using the LWA1". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/27.
@article{osti_22357196,
title = {Limits on gamma-ray burst prompt radio emission using the LWA1},
author = {Obenberger, K. S. and Taylor, G. B. and Craig, J. and Dowell, J. and Henning, P. A. and Schinzel, F. K. and Hartman, J. M. and Helmboldt, J. F. and Wilson, T. L.},
abstractNote = {As a backend to the first station of the Long Wavelength Array (LWA1), the Prototype All Sky Imager has been imaging the sky > –26° declination during 34 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) between 2012 January and 2013 May. Using this data, we were able to put the most stringent limits to date on prompt low-frequency emission from GRBs. While our limits depend on the zenith angle of the observed GRB, we estimate a 1σ rms sensitivity of 68, 65, and 70 Jy for 5 s integrations at 37.9, 52.0, and 74.0 MHz at zenith. These limits are relevant for pulses ≥5 s and are limited by dispersion smearing. For 5 s pulses, we are limited to dispersion measures (DMs) ≤ 220, 570, and 1600 pc cm{sup –3} for the frequencies above. For pulses lasting longer than 5 s, the DM limits increase linearly with the duration of the pulse. We also report two interesting transients, which are, as of yet, of unknown origin and are not coincident with any known GRBs. For general transients, we give rate density limits of ≤7.5 × 10{sup –3}, 2.9 × 10{sup –2}, and 1.4 × 10{sup –2} yr{sup –1} deg{sup –2} with pulse energy densities >1.3 × 10{sup –22}, 1.1 × 10{sup –22}, and 1.4 × 10{sup –22} J m{sup –2} Hz{sup –1} and pulse widths of 5 s at the frequencies given above.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/27},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22357196}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 785,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}