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Title:
The Faint Afterglow and Host Galaxy of the Short-Hard GRB 060121
Authors:
Levan, A. J.; Tanvir, N. R.; Fruchter, A. S.; Rol, E.; Fynbo, J. P. U.; Hjorth, J.; Williams, G.; Bergeron, E.; Bersier, D.; Bremer, M.; Grav, T.; Jakobsson, P.; Nilsson, K.; Olszewski, E.; Priddey, R. S.; Rafferty, D.; Rhoads, J.
Affiliation:
AA(Centre for Astrophysics Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, UK.; Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106.), AB(Centre for Astrophysics Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, UK.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.), AC(Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218.), AD(Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.), AE(Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.), AF(Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.), AG(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721.), AH(Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218.), AI(Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House, Egerton Wharf, Birkenhead CH41 1LD, UK.), AJ(Department of Physics, Bristol University, H. H. Wills Laboratory, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK.), AK(Institute for Astronomy, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822.), AL(Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.), AM(Tuorla Observatory, Väisäläntie 20, FIN-21500 Piikkiö, Finland.), AN(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721.), AO(Centre for Astrophysics Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, UK.), AP(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701.), AQ(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871504, Tempe, AZ 85287.)
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 648, Issue 1, pp. L9-L12. (ApJL Homepage)
Publication Date:
09/2006
Origin:
UCP
ApJ Keywords:
Gamma Rays: Bursts
DOI:
10.1086/507625
Bibliographic Code:
2006ApJ...648L...9L

Abstract

We present optical and X-ray observations of the afterglow and host galaxy of the short-hard GRB 060121. The faint R-band afterglow is seen to decline as t-0.66+/-0.09 while the X-ray falls as t-1.18+/-0.04, indicating the presence of the cooling break between the two frequencies. However, the R-band afterglow is very faint compared to the predicted extrapolation of the X-ray afterglow to the optical regime (specifically, βOX~0.2), while the K-band is consistent with this extrapolation (βKX~0.6), demonstrating suppression of the optical flux. Late-time HST observations place stringent limits on the afterglow R-band flux, implying a break in the R-band light curve. They also show that the burst occurred at the edge of a faint red galaxy, presumably the host, which most likely lies at a significantly higher redshift than the previous optically identified short-duration bursts. Several neighboring galaxies also have very red colors that are similarly suggestive of higher redshift. The least extreme explanation for the faintness and color of the burst is that it occurred at moderately high redshift and was significantly obscured; however, it is also possible that it lies at z>4.5, in which case the faintness of the R-band afterglow could be attributed to the Lyman break. We discuss the implications that either scenario would have for the nature of the progenitors of short bursts.
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