A time - luminosity correlation for Gamma Ray Bursts in the X - raysA time - luminosity correlation for Gamma Ray Bursts in the X - rays

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 Author Dainotti, M. G. ♦ Cardone, V. F. ♦ Capozziello, S. Source arXiv.org Content type Text File Format PDF Date of Submission 2008-09-08 Language English
 Subject Domain (in DDC) Computer science, information & general works ♦ Natural sciences & mathematics ♦ Astronomy & allied sciences ♦ Physics Subject Keyword Astrophysics ♦ physics:astro-ph Abstract Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) have recently attracted much attention as a possible way to extend the Hubble diagram to very high redshift. However, the large scatter in their intrinsic properties prevents directly using them as distance indicator so that the hunt is open for a relation involving an observable property to standardize GRBs in the same way as the Phillips law makes it possible to use Type Ia Supernovae (SNeIa) as standardizable candles. We use here the data on the X - ray decay curve and spectral index of a sample of GRBs observed with the Swift satellite. These data are used as input to a Bayesian statistical analysis looking for a correlation between the X - ray luminosity L_X(T_a) and the time constant T_a of the afterglow curve. We find a linear relation between \log{[L_X(T_a)]} and \log{[T_a/(1+z)]} with an intrinsic scatter sigma_{int} = 0.33 comparable to previously reported relations. Remarkably, both the slope and the intrinsic scatter are almost independent on the matter density Omega_M and the constant equation of state w of the dark energy component thus suggesting that the circularity problem is alleviated for the $L_X - T_a$ relation. Description Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication on MNRAS Letters Educational Use Research Learning Resource Type Article Page Count 5