On the cosmological evolution of long gamma-ray burst properties

Journal Article · 06 August 2019 · Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz2155 · OSTI ID:1557913

Lloyd-Ronning, Nicole M.  ^[1]; Aykutalp, Aycin ^[2]; Johnson, Jarrett L. ^[2]

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1. Center for Theoretical Astrophysics, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA, Department of Math, Science and Engineering, University of New Mexico, 4000 University Dr., Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
2. Center for Theoretical Astrophysics, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA

ABSTRACT We examine the relationship between a number of long gamma-ray burst (lGRB) properties (isotropic emitted energy, luminosity, intrinsic duration, jet opening angle) and redshift. We find that even when accounting for conservative detector flux limits, there appears to be a significant correlation between isotropic equivalent energy and redshift, suggesting cosmological evolution of the lGRB progenitor. Analysing a sub-sample of lGRBs with jet opening angle estimates, we find the beaming-corrected lGRB emitted energy does not correlate with redshift, but jet opening angle does. Additionally, we find a statistically significant anticorrelation between the intrinsic prompt duration and redshift, even when accounting for potential selection effects. We also find that, for a given redshift, isotropic energy is positively correlated with intrinsic prompt duration. None of these GRB properties appear to be correlated with galactic offset. From our selection-effect-corrected redshift distribution, we estimate a co-moving rate density for lGRBs, and compare this to the global cosmic star formation rate (SFR). We find the lGRB rate mildly exceeds the global star formation rate between a redshift of 3 and 5, and declines rapidly at redshifts above this (although we cannot constrain the lGRB rate above a redshift of about 6 due to sample incompleteness). We find the lGRB rate diverges significantly from the SFR at lower redshifts. We discuss both the correlations and lGRB rate density in terms of various lGRB progenitor models and their apparent preference for low-metallicity environments.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1557913
• Journal Information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Journal Name: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 488; ISSN 0035-8711
• Publisher: Royal Astronomical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English