The X-Ray Characteristics of a Classical Gamma-Ray Burst and its Afterglow

Abstract

The serendipitous observation of GRB 780506 by co-aligned gamma-ray (HEAO 1 A-4 0.02 - 6 MeV) and X-ray (HEAO 1 A-2 2-60 keV) instruments during a six hour pointing at a blank section of the sky gave us unprecedented high signal-to-noise X-ray spectra and light curves of a gamma-ray burst and its afterglow. We observed two breaks in the initial spectrum, one consistent with a peak in nu-F-nu of ~45 keV, and one below 4 keV, consistent with strong absorption, followed by dramatic spectral variability. The initial strong turnover below a few keV evolved into a slight excess. The spectral shape varied widely outside low energy limits prescribed by current relativistic shock models. Two minutes after the burst ended, HEAO 1 A-2 detected a faint resurgence of 2-10 keV flux, rising to a peak ~seven minutes after burst onset, followed by irregular emission with best-fit decay time of half an hour. We estimated that this entire afterglow radiated between 3 and 30% of the >1 keV energy radiated during the burst.