The dark side of ROTSE-III prompt GRB observations

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Yost S. A., Aharonian F., Akerlof C. W., Ashley M. C. B., Barthelmy S., Gehrels N., ...More

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, vol.669, no.2, pp.1107-1114, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 669 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1086/521668
  • Journal Name: ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1107-1114
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

We present several cases of optical observations during gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) which resulted in prompt limits but no detection of optical emission. These limits constrain the prompt optical flux densities and the optical brightness relative to the gamma-ray emission. The derived constraints fall within the range of properties observed in GRBs with prompt optical detections, although at the faint end of optical/gamma-ray flux ratios. The currently accessible prompt optical limits do not require a different set of intrinsic or environmental GRB properties, relative to the events with prompt optical detections.