http://arxiv.org/abs/1711.06593
The gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A associated with GW170817 is subluminous and subenergetic compared with other typical short GRBs. It may be due to a relativistic jet viewed off-axis, or a structured jet, or cocoon emission etc. Giant flares from magnetars may possibly be ruled out. However, the luminosity and energetics of GRB 170817A is coincident with that of magnetar giant flares. After the coalescence of the binary neutron star, a hypermassive neutron star may be formed. The hypermassive neutron star may have magnetar-strength magnetic field. The subsequent collapse of this hypermassive neutron star to a black hole may launch a relativistic jet. However, the prompt emission of the jet (if it exists) may have been missed due to a large viewing angle. During the collapse of the hypermassive neutron star, the magnetic field energy will also be released. This giant-flare-like event may explain the the luminosity and energetics of GRB 170817A. In this scenario, the kilonova emission, and later X-ray/radio afterglow are unaffected. Bursts with similar luminosity and energetics are expected in future neutron star-neutron star or neutron star-black hole mergers.
H. Tong and C. Yu
Mon, 20 Nov 17
34/56
Comments: 7 pages, to be submitted, comments welcome