2007/05/11 by A. J. Levan, N. R. Tanvir, P. Jakobsson +16 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.11953.x
published as Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 384 (2008) 541-547 · 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS
arxiv created 2007/05/11 · openalex publication_date 2008/01/18 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2019/06/27 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
We present deep optical and infrared (IR) observations of the short-duration GRB 050906. Although no X-ray or optical/IR afterglow was discovered to deep limits, the error circle of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) (as derived from the Swift Burst Alert Telescope, or BAT) is unusual in containing the relatively local starburst galaxy IC328. This makes GRB 050906 a candidate burst from a soft gamma-ray repeater (SGR), similar to the giant flare from SGR 1806−20. The probability of chance alignment of a given BAT position with such a galaxy is small (≲1 per cent), although the size of the error circle (2.6 arcmin radius) is such that a higher z origin cannot be ruled out. Indeed, the error circle also includes a moderately rich galaxy cluster at z= 0.43, which is a plausible location for the burst given the apparent preference that short-duration GRBs have for regions of high mass density. No residual optical or IR emission has been observed, in the form of either an afterglow or a later time emission from any associated supernova-like event. We discuss the constraints these limits place on the progenitor of GRB 050906 based on the expected optical signatures from both SGRs and merging compact object systems.