First Results from the Swift UVOT

Abstract

We review some of the initial data from the UVOT telescope on the Swift observatory. Statistics based on about six months of data suggest a dark burst fraction of about 50% when combining both UVOT and ground-based observations. There is evidence that some bursts have a large gamma-ray efficiency, which may be due to strong magnetic fields in their ejecta. The bright GRB050525A shows behaviour broadly consistent with expectations from the simple fireball model for bursts, including evidence for a reverse shock component in the UVOT data, and an achromatic break in decay slope indicative of a jet break. Other bursts observed with Swift have a shallow decay initially which is difficult to reconcile with the simple model. Replenishment of the forward shock energy by continued ejection of material from the central engine, or initial injection of material with a range of velocities, offers a potential explanation. In the case of the XRF050406 an initially rising optical afterglow flux followed by a shallow decay may be due to observation of a structured jet from a significant off-axis angle.