The host galaxy cluster of the short gamma-ray burst GRB 050509B

K. Pedersen; Á Elíasdóttir; J. Hjorth; R. Starling; J. M. Castro Cerón; J. P.U. Fynbo; J. Gorosabel; P. Jakobsson; J. Sollerman; D. Watson

doi:10.1086/498648

The host galaxy cluster of the short gamma-ray burst GRB 050509B

K. Pedersen^*, Á Elíasdóttir, J. Hjorth, R. Starling, J. M. Castro Cerón, J. P.U. Fynbo, J. Gorosabel, P. Jakobsson, J. Sollerman, D. Watson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Faculty of Physical Sciences

University of Iceland, Iceland

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

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The first arcsecond localization of a short gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509B, has enabled detailed studies of a short-burst environment. We here report on studies of the environment of GRB 050509B using the Swift X-Ray Telescope (XRT). The XRT error circle of the burst overlaps with an elliptical galaxy in the cluster of galaxies ZwCl 1234.0+02916. Using the measured X-ray flux of the cluster, we estimate that the probability for a chance superposition of GRB 050509B and a cluster at least as X-ray bright as this cluster is <2 × 10^-3, presenting the first strong case of a short burst located in a cluster of galaxies. We also consider the case for GRB 050509B being located behind ZwCl 1234.0+02916 and gravitationally lensed. From the velocity dispersion of the elliptical galaxy and the temperature of hot intracluster gas, we model the mass distribution in the elliptical galaxy and the cluster and calculate the gravitational lensing magnification within the XRT error circle. We find that, if GRB 050509B would be positioned significantly behind the cluster, it is most likely magnified by a factor less than 2, but that the burst could be strongly lensed if it is positioned within 2″ of the center of the bright elliptical galaxy. Further mapping of arcsecond-size short-burst error boxes is a new promising route to determine the spatial distribution of old stars throughout the universe.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L17-L20
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	634
Issue number	1 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/498648
Publication status	Published - 20 Nov 2005

Other keywords

Gamma rays: bursts
X-rays: individual (GRB 050509B)

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10.1086/498648

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title = "The host galaxy cluster of the short gamma-ray burst GRB 050509B",

abstract = "The first arcsecond localization of a short gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509B, has enabled detailed studies of a short-burst environment. We here report on studies of the environment of GRB 050509B using the Swift X-Ray Telescope (XRT). The XRT error circle of the burst overlaps with an elliptical galaxy in the cluster of galaxies ZwCl 1234.0+02916. Using the measured X-ray flux of the cluster, we estimate that the probability for a chance superposition of GRB 050509B and a cluster at least as X-ray bright as this cluster is <2 × 10-3, presenting the first strong case of a short burst located in a cluster of galaxies. We also consider the case for GRB 050509B being located behind ZwCl 1234.0+02916 and gravitationally lensed. From the velocity dispersion of the elliptical galaxy and the temperature of hot intracluster gas, we model the mass distribution in the elliptical galaxy and the cluster and calculate the gravitational lensing magnification within the XRT error circle. We find that, if GRB 050509B would be positioned significantly behind the cluster, it is most likely magnified by a factor less than 2, but that the burst could be strongly lensed if it is positioned within 2″ of the center of the bright elliptical galaxy. Further mapping of arcsecond-size short-burst error boxes is a new promising route to determine the spatial distribution of old stars throughout the universe.",

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T1 - The host galaxy cluster of the short gamma-ray burst GRB 050509B

AU - Pedersen, K.

AU - Elíasdóttir, Á

AU - Hjorth, J.

AU - Starling, R.

AU - Castro Cerón, J. M.

AU - Fynbo, J. P.U.

AU - Gorosabel, J.

AU - Jakobsson, P.

AU - Sollerman, J.

AU - Watson, D.

PY - 2005/11/20

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N2 - The first arcsecond localization of a short gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509B, has enabled detailed studies of a short-burst environment. We here report on studies of the environment of GRB 050509B using the Swift X-Ray Telescope (XRT). The XRT error circle of the burst overlaps with an elliptical galaxy in the cluster of galaxies ZwCl 1234.0+02916. Using the measured X-ray flux of the cluster, we estimate that the probability for a chance superposition of GRB 050509B and a cluster at least as X-ray bright as this cluster is <2 × 10-3, presenting the first strong case of a short burst located in a cluster of galaxies. We also consider the case for GRB 050509B being located behind ZwCl 1234.0+02916 and gravitationally lensed. From the velocity dispersion of the elliptical galaxy and the temperature of hot intracluster gas, we model the mass distribution in the elliptical galaxy and the cluster and calculate the gravitational lensing magnification within the XRT error circle. We find that, if GRB 050509B would be positioned significantly behind the cluster, it is most likely magnified by a factor less than 2, but that the burst could be strongly lensed if it is positioned within 2″ of the center of the bright elliptical galaxy. Further mapping of arcsecond-size short-burst error boxes is a new promising route to determine the spatial distribution of old stars throughout the universe.

AB - The first arcsecond localization of a short gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509B, has enabled detailed studies of a short-burst environment. We here report on studies of the environment of GRB 050509B using the Swift X-Ray Telescope (XRT). The XRT error circle of the burst overlaps with an elliptical galaxy in the cluster of galaxies ZwCl 1234.0+02916. Using the measured X-ray flux of the cluster, we estimate that the probability for a chance superposition of GRB 050509B and a cluster at least as X-ray bright as this cluster is <2 × 10-3, presenting the first strong case of a short burst located in a cluster of galaxies. We also consider the case for GRB 050509B being located behind ZwCl 1234.0+02916 and gravitationally lensed. From the velocity dispersion of the elliptical galaxy and the temperature of hot intracluster gas, we model the mass distribution in the elliptical galaxy and the cluster and calculate the gravitational lensing magnification within the XRT error circle. We find that, if GRB 050509B would be positioned significantly behind the cluster, it is most likely magnified by a factor less than 2, but that the burst could be strongly lensed if it is positioned within 2″ of the center of the bright elliptical galaxy. Further mapping of arcsecond-size short-burst error boxes is a new promising route to determine the spatial distribution of old stars throughout the universe.

KW - Gamma rays: bursts

KW - X-rays: individual (GRB 050509B)

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JF - Astrophysical Journal

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ER -

The host galaxy cluster of the short gamma-ray burst GRB 050509B

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