The polarization and beaming effect for GRBs

Abstract

Both observations and theoretical models suggest that the emissions in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and the afterglows are beamed. We argue that the recent polarization measured in the afterglows gives further evidence of beaming in GRBs. In this approach, we adopted the polarization-magnitude relation of BL Lacertae objects to 4 GRBs with available polarization measurements and found that the data of the 4 GRBs are consistent with the relation of BL Lacertae objects. This result suggests that the emissions in GRBs are beamed and there are similarities between GRBs and BL Lacertae objects (or generally blazars). We suggest that the weak polarization of GRBs may result from low percentage of orderly magnetic field in the shock front.