Open AccessGamma‐ray bursts: polarization of afterglows from two‐component jets
Author(s) -
Wu X. F.,
Dai Z. G.,
Huang Y. F.,
Lu T.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.08685.x
Subject(s) - physics , gamma ray burst , afterglow , polarization (electrochemistry) , position angle , astrophysics , line of sight , light curve , brewster's angle , optics , astronomy , galaxy , chemistry , brewster
The polarization behaviour of optical afterglows from two‐component gamma‐ray burst jets are investigated, assuming various configurations for the two components. In most cases, the observed polarization is dominated by the inner narrow component for a long period. Interestingly, it is revealed that different assumptions concerning the lateral expansion of the jet can lead to different evolutions of the position angle of polarization. The observed afterglow light curve and polarization behaviour of GRB 020813 can be well explained by the two‐component jet model. In particular, the model is able to explain the constancy of the observed position angle in this event, given that the line of sight is slightly outside the narrow component.