[vsnet-grb-info 9835] GRB100525A/MAXI J1659-152: Galactic origin from SED analysis

[GCN Circulars]

TITLE:   GCN CIRCULAR
NUMBER:  11303
SUBJECT: GRB100525A/MAXI J1659-152: Galactic origin from SED analysis
DATE:    10/09/26 00:44:23 GMT
FROM:    Dong Xu at Weizmann Inst  <dong at astro.ku.dk>

Dong Xu (Weizmann Institute) reported on a larger collaboration:

GRB100525A happened in the error circle of MAXI J1659-152 (Negoro et
al., ATel 2873; Magano et al., GCN 11296). Spectroscopy or a broadband
SED is critical to pin down its origin. The Swift UVOT and XRT data
were analyzed, covering 2000-1x10^4 s since the BAT trigger.
Generally, UVOT light curves are rather flat as the X-ray does.

The flux densities in the six UVOT filters without Galactic extinction
correction are rather low compared with the X-ray flux density. The
UVW2 flux density is almost comparable to that of the X-ray.  Assuming
the source being extragalactic and correction of E(B-V)~0.61 (Magano
et al., GCN 11296) applied, then UVOT flux densities are too high
compared with the downward extrapolation of the X-ray, if interpreted
with synchrotron radiation mechanism. Additionally, the UVOT spectral
index has \beta~2 (F_\nu \propto \nu^\beta) in this case, which is
unusual for GRB afterglows. To make UVOT-XRT SED explained by one
single mechanism, a moderate extinction is required. We found
E(B-V)~0.35 would naturally give rise to a good SED modeling: the
synchrotron radiation lies in the slow cooling phase with the minimum
frequency ~3x10^15 Hz, above which X-ray has \beta_X~-(p-1)/2~0.7
(i.e., p~2.4) and below which UVOT has \beta_opt~1/3. Therefore, we
suggest this source is of Galactic origin.

If the above synchrotron mechanism governs the broadband SED from
radio to X-ray, then MAXI J1659-152 is likely not detectable at radio,
especially when the synchrotron-self absorption frequency is above the
radio band. Therefore, radio follow-up is encouraged.