early universe; gamma rays: bursts; radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
Abstract :
[en] We report on the detection by Swift of GRB 080913, and subsequent optical/near-infrared follow-up observations by GROND, which led to the discovery of its optical/NIR afterglow and the recognition of its high-z nature via the detection of a spectral break between the i' and z' bands. Spectroscopy obtained at the ESO-VLT revealed a continuum extending down to λ = 9400 Å, and zero flux for 7500 Å<λ < 9400 Å, which we interpret as the onset of a Gunn-Peterson trough at z = 6.695± 0.025 (95.5% confidence level), making GRB 080913 the highest-redshift gamma-ray burst (GRB) to date, and more distant than the highest-redshift QSO. We note that many redshift indicators that are based on promptly available burst or afterglow properties have failed for GRB 080913. We report on our follow-up campaign and compare the properties of GRB 080913 with bursts at lower redshift. In particular, since the afterglow of this burst is fainter than typical for GRBs, we show that 2 m class telescopes can identify most high-redshift GRBs.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Greiner, J.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Krühler, T.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany ; Universe Cluster, Technische Universität München, Boltzmannstrasse 2, D-85748, Garching bei München, Germany
Fynbo, J. P. U.; Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark
Savaglio, S.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Tanvir, N. R.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
McBreen, S.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Totani, T.; Department of Astronomy, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
Zhang, B. B.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4002, USA
Wu, X. F.; Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA ; Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Watson, D.; Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark
Barthelmy, S. D.; NASA-GSFC, Code 661, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Beardmore, A. P.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
Kawai, N.; Department of Physics, Tokyo Inst. of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
Yoldaş, A Küpcü; ESO, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2, 85740 Garching bei München, Germany
Mészáros, P.; Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA ; Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Milvang-Jensen, B.; Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark
Oates, S. R.; Mullard Space Science Lab, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6NT, UK
Pierini, D.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Schady, P.; Mullard Space Science Lab, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6NT, UK
Toma, K.; Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA ; Division of Theoretical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
Vreeswijk, P. M.; Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark
Yoldaş, A.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Zhang, B.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4002, USA
Afonso, P.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Aoki, K.; Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 650 North A'ohōkū Place, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Burrows, D. N.; Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Clemens, C.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Filgas, R.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Haiman, Z.; Department of Astronomy, Columbia University, 1328 Pupin Physics Laboratories, New York, NY 10027, USA
Hartmann, D. H.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
Hasinger, G.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany
Hjorth, J.; Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark
Jehin, Emmanuel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique et traitement de l'image
Levan, A. J.; Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Liang, E. W.; Department of Physics, Guangxi University, Guangxi 53004, China
Malesani, D.; Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark
Pyo, T*-S; Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 650 North A'ohōkū Place, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Szokoly, G.; Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Germany ; Eötvös Univ., 1117 Budapest, Pazmany P. stny. 1/A, Hungary
Terada, K.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
