Heavy element production in a compact object merger observed by JWST

Andrew Levan; Benjamin P. Gompertz; Om Sharan Salafia; Mattia Bulla; Eric Burns; Kenta Hotokezaka; Luca Izzo; Gavin P. Lamb; Daniele B. Malesani; Samantha R. Oates; Maria Edvige Ravasio; Alicia Rouco Escorial; Benjamin Schneider; Nikhil Sarin; Steve Schulze; Nial R. Tanvir; Kendall Ackley; Gemma Anderson; Gabriel B. Brammer; Lise Christensen; Vikram S. Dhillon; Phil A. Evans; Michael Fausnaugh; Wen-Fai Fong; Andrew S. Fruchter; Chris Fryer; Johan P. U. Fynbo; Nicola Gaspari; Kasper E. Heintz; Jens Hjorth; Jamie A. Kennea; Mark R. Kennedy; Tanmoy Laskar; Giorgos Leloudas; Ilya Mandel; Antonio Martin-Carrillo; Brian D. Metzger; Matt Nicholl; Anya Nugent; Jesse T. Palmerio; Giovanna Pugliese; Jillian Rastinejad; Lauren Rhodes; Andrea Rossi; Andrea Saccardi; Stephen J. Smartt; Heloise F. Stevance; Aaron Tohuvavohu; Alexander van der Horst; Susanna D. Vergani; Darach Watson; Thomas Barclay; Kornpob Bhirombhakdi; Elmé Breedt; Alice A. Breeveld; Alexander J. Brown; Sergio Campana; Ashley A. Chrimes; Paolo D'Avanzo; Valerio D'Elia; Massimiliano De Pasquale; Martin J. Dyer; Duncan K. Galloway; James A. Garbutt; Matthew J. Green; Dieter H. Hartmann; Páll Jakobsson; Paul Kerry; Chryssa Kouveliotou; Danial Langeroodi; Emeric Le Floc'h; James K. Leung; Stuart P. Littlefair; James Munday; Paul O'Brien; Steven G. Parsons; Ingrid Pelisoli; David I. Sahman; Ruben Salvaterra; Boris Sbarufatti; Danny Steeghs; Gianpiero Tagliaferri; Christina C. Thöne; Antonio de Ugarte Postigo; David Alexander Kann

doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06759-1

Heavy element production in a compact object merger observed by JWST

Andrew Levan^*, Benjamin P. Gompertz, Om Sharan Salafia, Mattia Bulla, Eric Burns, Kenta Hotokezaka, Luca Izzo, Gavin P. Lamb, Daniele B. Malesani, Samantha R. Oates, Maria Edvige Ravasio, Alicia Rouco Escorial, Benjamin Schneider, Nikhil Sarin, Steve Schulze, Nial R. Tanvir, Kendall Ackley, Gemma Anderson, Gabriel B. Brammer, Lise ChristensenVikram S. Dhillon, Phil A. Evans, Michael Fausnaugh, Wen-Fai Fong, Andrew S. Fruchter, Chris Fryer, Johan P. U. Fynbo, Nicola Gaspari, Kasper E. Heintz, Jens Hjorth, Jamie A. Kennea, Mark R. Kennedy, Tanmoy Laskar, Giorgos Leloudas, Ilya Mandel, Antonio Martin-Carrillo, Brian D. Metzger, Matt Nicholl, Anya Nugent, Jesse T. Palmerio, Giovanna Pugliese, Jillian Rastinejad, Lauren Rhodes, Andrea Rossi, Andrea Saccardi, Stephen J. Smartt, Heloise F. Stevance, Aaron Tohuvavohu, Alexander van der Horst, Susanna D. Vergani, Darach Watson, Thomas Barclay, Kornpob Bhirombhakdi, Elmé Breedt, Alice A. Breeveld, Alexander J. Brown, Sergio Campana, Ashley A. Chrimes, Paolo D'Avanzo, Valerio D'Elia, Massimiliano De Pasquale, Martin J. Dyer, Duncan K. Galloway, James A. Garbutt, Matthew J. Green, Dieter H. Hartmann, Páll Jakobsson, Paul Kerry, Chryssa Kouveliotou, Danial Langeroodi, Emeric Le Floc'h, James K. Leung, Stuart P. Littlefair, James Munday, Paul O'Brien, Steven G. Parsons, Ingrid Pelisoli, David I. Sahman, Ruben Salvaterra, Boris Sbarufatti, Danny Steeghs, Gianpiero Tagliaferri, Christina C. Thöne, Antonio de Ugarte Postigo, David Alexander Kann

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

115 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The mergers of binary compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes are of central interest to several areas of astrophysics, including as the progenitors of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) , sources of high-frequency gravitational waves (GW) and likely production sites for heavy element nucleosynthesis via rapid neutron capture (the r-process) . Here we present observations of the exceptionally bright gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A. We show that GRB 230307A belongs to the class of long-duration gamma-ray bursts associated with compact object mergers , and contains a kilonova similar to AT2017gfo, associated with the gravitational-wave merger GW170817 . We obtained James Webb Space Telescope mid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging and spectroscopy 29 and 61 days after the burst. The spectroscopy shows an emission line at 2.15 microns which we interpret as tellurium (atomic mass A=130), and a very red source, emitting most of its light in the mid-IR due to the production of lanthanides. These observations demonstrate that nucleosynthesis in GRBs can create r-process elements across a broad atomic mass range and play a central role in heavy element nucleosynthesis across the Universe. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.]

Original language	English
Journal	Nature
Early online date	25 Oct 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06759-1
Publication status	Early online date - 25 Oct 2023

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Levan, A., Gompertz, B. P., Salafia, O. S., Bulla, M., Burns, E., Hotokezaka, K., Izzo, L., Lamb, G. P., Malesani, D. B., Oates, S. R., Ravasio, M. E., Rouco Escorial, A., Schneider, B., Sarin, N., Schulze, S., Tanvir, N. R., Ackley, K., Anderson, G., Brammer, G. B., ... Kann, D. A. (2023). Heavy element production in a compact object merger observed by JWST. Nature. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06759-1

@article{b43a092a96b04baaa4d6459a20932c50,

title = "Heavy element production in a compact object merger observed by JWST",

abstract = "The mergers of binary compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes are of central interest to several areas of astrophysics, including as the progenitors of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) , sources of high-frequency gravitational waves (GW) and likely production sites for heavy element nucleosynthesis via rapid neutron capture (the r-process) . Here we present observations of the exceptionally bright gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A. We show that GRB 230307A belongs to the class of long-duration gamma-ray bursts associated with compact object mergers , and contains a kilonova similar to AT2017gfo, associated with the gravitational-wave merger GW170817 . We obtained James Webb Space Telescope mid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging and spectroscopy 29 and 61 days after the burst. The spectroscopy shows an emission line at 2.15 microns which we interpret as tellurium (atomic mass A=130), and a very red source, emitting most of its light in the mid-IR due to the production of lanthanides. These observations demonstrate that nucleosynthesis in GRBs can create r-process elements across a broad atomic mass range and play a central role in heavy element nucleosynthesis across the Universe. [Abstract copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.]",

author = "Andrew Levan and Gompertz, {Benjamin P.} and Salafia, {Om Sharan} and Mattia Bulla and Eric Burns and Kenta Hotokezaka and Luca Izzo and Lamb, {Gavin P.} and Malesani, {Daniele B.} and Oates, {Samantha R.} and Ravasio, {Maria Edvige} and {Rouco Escorial}, Alicia and Benjamin Schneider and Nikhil Sarin and Steve Schulze and Tanvir, {Nial R.} and Kendall Ackley and Gemma Anderson and Brammer, {Gabriel B.} and Lise Christensen and Dhillon, {Vikram S.} and Evans, {Phil A.} and Michael Fausnaugh and Wen-Fai Fong and Fruchter, {Andrew S.} and Chris Fryer and Fynbo, {Johan P. U.} and Nicola Gaspari and Heintz, {Kasper E.} and Jens Hjorth and Kennea, {Jamie A.} and Kennedy, {Mark R.} and Tanmoy Laskar and Giorgos Leloudas and Ilya Mandel and Antonio Martin-Carrillo and Metzger, {Brian D.} and Matt Nicholl and Anya Nugent and Palmerio, {Jesse T.} and Giovanna Pugliese and Jillian Rastinejad and Lauren Rhodes and Andrea Rossi and Andrea Saccardi and Smartt, {Stephen J.} and Stevance, {Heloise F.} and Aaron Tohuvavohu and {van der Horst}, Alexander and Vergani, {Susanna D.} and Darach Watson and Thomas Barclay and Kornpob Bhirombhakdi and Elm{\'e} Breedt and Breeveld, {Alice A.} and Brown, {Alexander J.} and Sergio Campana and Chrimes, {Ashley A.} and Paolo D'Avanzo and Valerio D'Elia and {De Pasquale}, Massimiliano and Dyer, {Martin J.} and Galloway, {Duncan K.} and Garbutt, {James A.} and Green, {Matthew J.} and Hartmann, {Dieter H.} and P{\'a}ll Jakobsson and Paul Kerry and Chryssa Kouveliotou and Danial Langeroodi and {Le Floc'h}, Emeric and Leung, {James K.} and Littlefair, {Stuart P.} and James Munday and Paul O'Brien and Parsons, {Steven G.} and Ingrid Pelisoli and Sahman, {David I.} and Ruben Salvaterra and Boris Sbarufatti and Danny Steeghs and Gianpiero Tagliaferri and Th{\"o}ne, {Christina C.} and {de Ugarte Postigo}, Antonio and Kann, {David Alexander}",

year = "2023",

month = oct,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1038/s41586-023-06759-1",

language = "English",

journal = "Nature",

issn = "0028-0836",

publisher = "Nature Research",

}

Levan, A, Gompertz, BP, Salafia, OS, Bulla, M, Burns, E, Hotokezaka, K, Izzo, L, Lamb, GP, Malesani, DB, Oates, SR, Ravasio, ME, Rouco Escorial, A, Schneider, B, Sarin, N, Schulze, S, Tanvir, NR, Ackley, K, Anderson, G, Brammer, GB, Christensen, L, Dhillon, VS, Evans, PA, Fausnaugh, M, Fong, W-F, Fruchter, AS, Fryer, C, Fynbo, JPU, Gaspari, N, Heintz, KE, Hjorth, J, Kennea, JA, Kennedy, MR, Laskar, T, Leloudas, G, Mandel, I, Martin-Carrillo, A, Metzger, BD, Nicholl, M, Nugent, A, Palmerio, JT, Pugliese, G, Rastinejad, J, Rhodes, L, Rossi, A, Saccardi, A, Smartt, SJ, Stevance, HF, Tohuvavohu, A, van der Horst, A, Vergani, SD, Watson, D, Barclay, T, Bhirombhakdi, K, Breedt, E, Breeveld, AA, Brown, AJ, Campana, S, Chrimes, AA, D'Avanzo, P, D'Elia, V, De Pasquale, M, Dyer, MJ, Galloway, DK, Garbutt, JA, Green, MJ, Hartmann, DH, Jakobsson, P, Kerry, P, Kouveliotou, C, Langeroodi, D, Le Floc'h, E, Leung, JK, Littlefair, SP, Munday, J, O'Brien, P, Parsons, SG, Pelisoli, I, Sahman, DI, Salvaterra, R, Sbarufatti, B, Steeghs, D, Tagliaferri, G, Thöne, CC, de Ugarte Postigo, A & Kann, DA 2023, 'Heavy element production in a compact object merger observed by JWST', Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06759-1

TY - JOUR

T1 - Heavy element production in a compact object merger observed by JWST

AU - Levan, Andrew

AU - Gompertz, Benjamin P.

AU - Salafia, Om Sharan

AU - Bulla, Mattia

AU - Burns, Eric

AU - Hotokezaka, Kenta

AU - Izzo, Luca

AU - Lamb, Gavin P.

AU - Malesani, Daniele B.

AU - Oates, Samantha R.

AU - Ravasio, Maria Edvige

AU - Rouco Escorial, Alicia

AU - Schneider, Benjamin

AU - Sarin, Nikhil

AU - Schulze, Steve

AU - Tanvir, Nial R.

AU - Ackley, Kendall

AU - Anderson, Gemma

AU - Brammer, Gabriel B.

AU - Christensen, Lise

AU - Dhillon, Vikram S.

AU - Evans, Phil A.

AU - Fausnaugh, Michael

AU - Fong, Wen-Fai

AU - Fruchter, Andrew S.

AU - Fryer, Chris

AU - Fynbo, Johan P. U.

AU - Gaspari, Nicola

AU - Heintz, Kasper E.

AU - Hjorth, Jens

AU - Kennea, Jamie A.

AU - Kennedy, Mark R.

AU - Laskar, Tanmoy

AU - Leloudas, Giorgos

AU - Mandel, Ilya

AU - Martin-Carrillo, Antonio

AU - Metzger, Brian D.

AU - Nicholl, Matt

AU - Nugent, Anya

AU - Palmerio, Jesse T.

AU - Pugliese, Giovanna

AU - Rastinejad, Jillian

AU - Rhodes, Lauren

AU - Rossi, Andrea

AU - Saccardi, Andrea

AU - Smartt, Stephen J.

AU - Stevance, Heloise F.

AU - Tohuvavohu, Aaron

AU - van der Horst, Alexander

AU - Vergani, Susanna D.

AU - Watson, Darach

AU - Barclay, Thomas

AU - Bhirombhakdi, Kornpob

AU - Breedt, Elmé

AU - Breeveld, Alice A.

AU - Brown, Alexander J.

AU - Campana, Sergio

AU - Chrimes, Ashley A.

AU - D'Avanzo, Paolo

AU - D'Elia, Valerio

AU - De Pasquale, Massimiliano

AU - Dyer, Martin J.

AU - Galloway, Duncan K.

AU - Garbutt, James A.

AU - Green, Matthew J.

AU - Hartmann, Dieter H.

AU - Jakobsson, Páll

AU - Kerry, Paul

AU - Kouveliotou, Chryssa

AU - Langeroodi, Danial

AU - Le Floc'h, Emeric

AU - Leung, James K.

AU - Littlefair, Stuart P.

AU - Munday, James

AU - O'Brien, Paul

AU - Parsons, Steven G.

AU - Pelisoli, Ingrid

AU - Sahman, David I.

AU - Salvaterra, Ruben

AU - Sbarufatti, Boris

AU - Steeghs, Danny

AU - Tagliaferri, Gianpiero

AU - Thöne, Christina C.

AU - de Ugarte Postigo, Antonio

AU - Kann, David Alexander

PY - 2023/10/25

Y1 - 2023/10/25

N2 - The mergers of binary compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes are of central interest to several areas of astrophysics, including as the progenitors of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) , sources of high-frequency gravitational waves (GW) and likely production sites for heavy element nucleosynthesis via rapid neutron capture (the r-process) . Here we present observations of the exceptionally bright gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A. We show that GRB 230307A belongs to the class of long-duration gamma-ray bursts associated with compact object mergers , and contains a kilonova similar to AT2017gfo, associated with the gravitational-wave merger GW170817 . We obtained James Webb Space Telescope mid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging and spectroscopy 29 and 61 days after the burst. The spectroscopy shows an emission line at 2.15 microns which we interpret as tellurium (atomic mass A=130), and a very red source, emitting most of its light in the mid-IR due to the production of lanthanides. These observations demonstrate that nucleosynthesis in GRBs can create r-process elements across a broad atomic mass range and play a central role in heavy element nucleosynthesis across the Universe. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.]

AB - The mergers of binary compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes are of central interest to several areas of astrophysics, including as the progenitors of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) , sources of high-frequency gravitational waves (GW) and likely production sites for heavy element nucleosynthesis via rapid neutron capture (the r-process) . Here we present observations of the exceptionally bright gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A. We show that GRB 230307A belongs to the class of long-duration gamma-ray bursts associated with compact object mergers , and contains a kilonova similar to AT2017gfo, associated with the gravitational-wave merger GW170817 . We obtained James Webb Space Telescope mid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging and spectroscopy 29 and 61 days after the burst. The spectroscopy shows an emission line at 2.15 microns which we interpret as tellurium (atomic mass A=130), and a very red source, emitting most of its light in the mid-IR due to the production of lanthanides. These observations demonstrate that nucleosynthesis in GRBs can create r-process elements across a broad atomic mass range and play a central role in heavy element nucleosynthesis across the Universe. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.]

U2 - 10.1038/s41586-023-06759-1

DO - 10.1038/s41586-023-06759-1

M3 - Article

C2 - 37879361

SN - 0028-0836

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

ER -

Heavy element production in a compact object merger observed by JWST

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