Optical follow-up of GRB 970508

T.J. Galama; P.J. Groot; J. Van Paradijs; C. Kouveliotou; R.G. Strom; R.A.M.J. Wijers; N. Tanvir; J. Bloom; M. Centurion; J. Telting; R.G.M. Rutten; P. Smith; C. Mackey; Stephen Smartt; C. Benn; J. Heise; J. Zand

Optical follow-up of GRB 970508

T.J. Galama, P.J. Groot, J. Van Paradijs, C. Kouveliotou, R.G. Strom, R.A.M.J. Wijers, N. Tanvir, J. Bloom, M. Centurion, J. Telting, R.G.M. Rutten, P. Smith, C. Mackey, Stephen Smartt, C. Benn, J. Heise, J. Zand

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66 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report on the results of optical follow-up observations of the counterpart of the gamma-ray burst GRB 970508, starting 7 hr after the event. Multicolor U-, B-, V-, R-c-, and I-c-band observations were obtained during the first three consecutive nights. The counterpart was monitored regularly in R-c, until similar to 4 months after the burst. The light curve after the maximum follows a decline that can be fitted with a power law with exponent alpha = -1.141 +/- 0.014. Deviations from a smooth power-law decay are moderate (rms = 0.15 mag). We find no flattening of the light curve at late times. The optical afterglow fluence is a significant fraction, similar to 5%, of the GRB fluence. The optical energy distribution can be well represented by a power law, the slope of which changed at the time of the maximum (the spectrum became redder).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L13
Number of pages	1
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	497
Issue number	1 PART II
Publication status	Published - 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Space and Planetary Science

Cite this

@article{ebc9231255df4dd9b8d68eb067d74b73,

title = "Optical follow-up of GRB 970508",

abstract = "We report on the results of optical follow-up observations of the counterpart of the gamma-ray burst GRB 970508, starting 7 hr after the event. Multicolor U-, B-, V-, R-c-, and I-c-band observations were obtained during the first three consecutive nights. The counterpart was monitored regularly in R-c, until similar to 4 months after the burst. The light curve after the maximum follows a decline that can be fitted with a power law with exponent alpha = -1.141 +/- 0.014. Deviations from a smooth power-law decay are moderate (rms = 0.15 mag). We find no flattening of the light curve at late times. The optical afterglow fluence is a significant fraction, similar to 5%, of the GRB fluence. The optical energy distribution can be well represented by a power law, the slope of which changed at the time of the maximum (the spectrum became redder).",

author = "T.J. Galama and P.J. Groot and {Van Paradijs}, J. and C. Kouveliotou and R.G. Strom and R.A.M.J. Wijers and N. Tanvir and J. Bloom and M. Centurion and J. Telting and R.G.M. Rutten and P. Smith and C. Mackey and Stephen Smartt and C. Benn and J. Heise and J. Zand",

year = "1998",

language = "English",

volume = "497",

pages = "L13",

journal = "The Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "1 PART II",

}

Optical follow-up of GRB 970508. / Galama, T.J.; Groot, P.J.; Van Paradijs, J.; Kouveliotou, C.; Strom, R.G.; Wijers, R.A.M.J.; Tanvir, N.; Bloom, J.; Centurion, M.; Telting, J.; Rutten, R.G.M.; Smith, P.; Mackey, C.; Smartt, Stephen; Benn, C.; Heise, J.; Zand, J.

In: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 497, No. 1 PART II, 1998, p. L13.

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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Optical follow-up of GRB 970508

AU - Galama, T.J.

AU - Groot, P.J.

AU - Van Paradijs, J.

AU - Kouveliotou, C.

AU - Strom, R.G.

AU - Wijers, R.A.M.J.

AU - Tanvir, N.

AU - Bloom, J.

AU - Centurion, M.

AU - Telting, J.

AU - Rutten, R.G.M.

AU - Smith, P.

AU - Mackey, C.

AU - Smartt, Stephen

AU - Benn, C.

AU - Heise, J.

AU - Zand, J.

PY - 1998

Y1 - 1998

N2 - We report on the results of optical follow-up observations of the counterpart of the gamma-ray burst GRB 970508, starting 7 hr after the event. Multicolor U-, B-, V-, R-c-, and I-c-band observations were obtained during the first three consecutive nights. The counterpart was monitored regularly in R-c, until similar to 4 months after the burst. The light curve after the maximum follows a decline that can be fitted with a power law with exponent alpha = -1.141 +/- 0.014. Deviations from a smooth power-law decay are moderate (rms = 0.15 mag). We find no flattening of the light curve at late times. The optical afterglow fluence is a significant fraction, similar to 5%, of the GRB fluence. The optical energy distribution can be well represented by a power law, the slope of which changed at the time of the maximum (the spectrum became redder).

AB - We report on the results of optical follow-up observations of the counterpart of the gamma-ray burst GRB 970508, starting 7 hr after the event. Multicolor U-, B-, V-, R-c-, and I-c-band observations were obtained during the first three consecutive nights. The counterpart was monitored regularly in R-c, until similar to 4 months after the burst. The light curve after the maximum follows a decline that can be fitted with a power law with exponent alpha = -1.141 +/- 0.014. Deviations from a smooth power-law decay are moderate (rms = 0.15 mag). We find no flattening of the light curve at late times. The optical afterglow fluence is a significant fraction, similar to 5%, of the GRB fluence. The optical energy distribution can be well represented by a power law, the slope of which changed at the time of the maximum (the spectrum became redder).

M3 - Article

VL - 497

SP - L13

JO - The Astrophysical Journal

JF - The Astrophysical Journal

SN - 0004-637X

IS - 1 PART II

ER -

Optical follow-up of GRB 970508

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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