2006/06/30 by Д. А. Канн, D. A. Kann, N. Masetti +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/511066
published as Astron.J.133:1187-1192,2007 · The Astronomical Journal, in press; revised version, including the comments of the referee (one figure added, text restructured, all conclusions unchanged), 7 pages, 3 figures
arxiv created 2006/11/20 · openalex publication_date 2007/02/12 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
With a redshift of z = 6.295, GRB 050904 is the most distant gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever discovered. It was an energetic event at all wavelengths, and the afterglow was observed in detail in the near-infrared (NIR) bands. We gathered all available optical and NIR afterglow photometry of this GRB to construct a composite NIR light curve spanning several decades in time and flux density. Transforming the NIR light curve into the optical, we find that the afterglow of GRB 050904 was more luminous at early times than any other GRB afterglow in the pre- Swift era, making it at these wavelengths the most luminous transient ever detected. Given the intrinsic properties of GRB 050904 and its afterglow, we discuss whether this burst is markedly different from other GRBs at lower redshifts.