The interstellar medium of gamma-ray burst host galaxies. I. Echelle spectra of swift GRB afterglows

J. X. Prochaska; H. W. Chen; J. S. Bloom; M. Dessauges-Zavadsky; J. M. O'Meara; R. J. Foley; R. Bernstein; S. Burles; A. K. Dupree; E. Palco; I. B. Thompson

doi:10.1086/510239

The interstellar medium of gamma-ray burst host galaxies. I. Echelle spectra of swift GRB afterglows

J. X. Prochaska, H. W. Chen, J. S. Bloom, M. Dessauges-Zavadsky, J. M. O'Meara, R. J. Foley, R. Bernstein, S. Burles, A. K. Dupree, E. Palco, I. B. Thompson

Astronomy

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Abstract

We present optical echelle spectra of four gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows (GRB 050730, GRB 050820, GRB 051111, and GRB 060418) discovered during the first 1.5 yr of operation of the Swift satellite and localized by either the Swift telescope or follow-up ground-based imaging. We analyze the spectra to derive accurate column density measurements for the transitions arising in the interstellar medium (ISM) of the GRB host galaxies. These measurements can be used to constrain the physical properties of the ISM, including the metallicity, dust-to-gas ratio, ionization state, and chemical abundances of the gas. We also present measurements of the strong Mg II systems in the GRB afterglow spectra. With the publication of this paper, we provide the first data release of echelle afterglow spectra by the GRAASP collaboration to the general community.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	231-267
Number of pages	37
Journal	Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume	168
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/510239
State	Published - Feb 2007

Keywords

Galaxies: ISM
Gamma rays: bursts

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Online availability

10.1086/510239

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title = "The interstellar medium of gamma-ray burst host galaxies. I. Echelle spectra of swift GRB afterglows",

abstract = "We present optical echelle spectra of four gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows (GRB 050730, GRB 050820, GRB 051111, and GRB 060418) discovered during the first 1.5 yr of operation of the Swift satellite and localized by either the Swift telescope or follow-up ground-based imaging. We analyze the spectra to derive accurate column density measurements for the transitions arising in the interstellar medium (ISM) of the GRB host galaxies. These measurements can be used to constrain the physical properties of the ISM, including the metallicity, dust-to-gas ratio, ionization state, and chemical abundances of the gas. We also present measurements of the strong Mg II systems in the GRB afterglow spectra. With the publication of this paper, we provide the first data release of echelle afterglow spectra by the GRAASP collaboration to the general community.",

keywords = "Galaxies: ISM, Gamma rays: bursts",

author = "Prochaska, {J. X.} and Chen, {H. W.} and Bloom, {J. S.} and M. Dessauges-Zavadsky and O'Meara, {J. M.} and Foley, {R. J.} and R. Bernstein and S. Burles and Dupree, {A. K.} and E. Palco and Thompson, {I. B.}",

year = "2007",

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language = "English (US)",

volume = "168",

pages = "231--267",

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AU - Prochaska, J. X.

AU - Chen, H. W.

AU - Bloom, J. S.

AU - Dessauges-Zavadsky, M.

AU - O'Meara, J. M.

AU - Foley, R. J.

AU - Bernstein, R.

AU - Burles, S.

AU - Dupree, A. K.

AU - Palco, E.

AU - Thompson, I. B.

PY - 2007/2

Y1 - 2007/2

N2 - We present optical echelle spectra of four gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows (GRB 050730, GRB 050820, GRB 051111, and GRB 060418) discovered during the first 1.5 yr of operation of the Swift satellite and localized by either the Swift telescope or follow-up ground-based imaging. We analyze the spectra to derive accurate column density measurements for the transitions arising in the interstellar medium (ISM) of the GRB host galaxies. These measurements can be used to constrain the physical properties of the ISM, including the metallicity, dust-to-gas ratio, ionization state, and chemical abundances of the gas. We also present measurements of the strong Mg II systems in the GRB afterglow spectra. With the publication of this paper, we provide the first data release of echelle afterglow spectra by the GRAASP collaboration to the general community.

AB - We present optical echelle spectra of four gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows (GRB 050730, GRB 050820, GRB 051111, and GRB 060418) discovered during the first 1.5 yr of operation of the Swift satellite and localized by either the Swift telescope or follow-up ground-based imaging. We analyze the spectra to derive accurate column density measurements for the transitions arising in the interstellar medium (ISM) of the GRB host galaxies. These measurements can be used to constrain the physical properties of the ISM, including the metallicity, dust-to-gas ratio, ionization state, and chemical abundances of the gas. We also present measurements of the strong Mg II systems in the GRB afterglow spectra. With the publication of this paper, we provide the first data release of echelle afterglow spectra by the GRAASP collaboration to the general community.

KW - Galaxies: ISM

KW - Gamma rays: bursts

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JF - Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series

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The interstellar medium of gamma-ray burst host galaxies. I. Echelle spectra of swift GRB afterglows

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