학술논문
JWST detection of heavy neutron capture elements in a compact object merger
Document Type
Working Paper
Author
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.; Escorial, A. Rouco; Schneider, B.; Sarin, N.; Schulze, S.; Tanvir, N. R.; Ackley, K.; Anderson, G.; Brammer, G. B.; Christensen, L.; Dhillon, V. S.; Evans, P. A.; Fausnaugh, M.; Fong, W. -F.; Fruchter, A. S.; Fryer, C.; Fynbo, J. P. U.; Gaspari, N.; Heintz, K. E.; Hjorth, J.; Kennea, J. A.; Kennedy, M. R.; Laskar, T.; Leloudas, G.; Mandel, I.; Martin-Carrillo, A.; Metzger, B. D.; Nicholl, M.; Nugent, A.; Palmerio, J. T.; Pugliese, G.; Rastinejad, J.; Rhodes, L.; Rossi, A.; Smartt, S. J.; Stevance, H. F.; Tohuvavohu, A.; van der Horst, A.; Vergani, S. D.; Watson, D.; Barclay, T.; Bhirombhakdi, K.; Breedt, E.; Breeveld, A. A.; Brown, A. J.; Campana, S.; Chrimes, A. A.; D'Avanzo, P.; D'Elia, V.; De Pasquale, M.; Dyer, M. J.; Galloway, D. K.; Garbutt, J. A.; Green, M. J.; Hartmann, D. H.; Jakobsson, P.; Kerry, P.; Langeroodi, D.; Leung, J. K.; Littlefair, S. P.; Munday, J.; O'Brien, P.; Parsons, S. G.; Pelisoli, I.; Saccardi, A.; Sahman, D. I.; Salvaterra, R.; Sbarufatti, B.; Steeghs, D.; Tagliaferri, G.; Thöne, C. C.; Postigo, A. de Ugarte; Kann, D. A.
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Subject
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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 and likely production sites for heavy element nucleosynthesis via rapid neutron capture (the r-process). These heavy elements include some of great geophysical, biological and cultural importance, such as thorium, iodine and gold. 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.
Comment: Submitted. Comments welcome! Nature (2023)
Comment: Submitted. Comments welcome! Nature (2023)