X-ray afterglow of GRB 050712: Multiple energy injections into the external shock

Abstract

As indicated by the observed X-ray flares, a great amount of energy could be intermediately released from the postburst central engine of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). As a natural consequence, the GRB external shock could be energized over and over. With such a multiple energy injection model, we explore the unique X-ray afterglow light curve of GRB 050712, which exists four apparent shallow decay plateaus. Together with three early X-ray flares, the central engine of GRB 050712 is supposed to release energy at least seven times after the burst. Furthermore we find that the energy released during four plateaus are all on the same order of magnitude, but the luminosity decreases with time significantly. These results may provide some interesting implications for the GRB central engine.