Early optical-IR emission from GRB 041219a: neutron-rich internal shocks and a mildly magnetized external reverse shock

Abstract

Very early optical and near infrared (IR) emission was discovered accompanying the long gamma-ray burst (GRB) 041219a. We show that the optical/IR flash tracking the gamma-ray lightcurve during the prompt emission could be understood as emission from neutron-rich internal shocks, as has been suggested by Fan & Wei. The early K_s-band afterglow lightcurve after the prompt phase could be well-modeled as the superposition of a reverse shock and a forward shock component. The radio data also support the reverse shock interpretation.