Discovery of an X-ray afterglow associated with the γ-ray burst of 28 February 1997 (original) (raw)

• Letter
• Published: 19 June 1997
• F. Frontera2,3,
• J. Heise4,
• M. Feroci1,
• J. in 't Zand4,
• F. Fiore5,6,
• M. N. Cinti1,
• D. Dal Fiume2,
• L. Nicastro2,
• M. Orlandini2,
• E. Palazzi2,
• M. Rapisarda#7,1,
• G. Zavattini3,
• R. Jager4,
• A. Parmar8,
• A. Owens8,
• S. Molendi9,
• G. Cusumano10,
• M. C. Maccarone10,
• S. Giarrusso10,
• A. Coletta11,
• L. A. Antonelli5,
• P. Giommi5,
• J. M. Muller5,4,
• L. Piro1 &
• …
• R. C. Butler12

Nature volume 387, pages 783–785 (1997) Cite this article

• 3296 Accesses
• 856 Citations
• 10 Altmetric
• Metrics details

Abstract

Establishing the nature of γ-ray bursts is one of the greatest challenges in high-energy astrophysics. The distribution of these bursts is isotropic across the sky, but inhomogeneous in space, with a deficit of faint bursts1. It is currently unknown whether γ-ray bursts are produced in our Galaxy or at cosmological distances. The detection and identification of counterparts at other wavelengths are seen as crucial for resolving the origin of the events. Here we report the detection by the Beppo-SAX satellite2 of an X-ray ‘afterglow’, associated with the γ-ray burst of 28 February 1997 (GRB970228; ref. 3)—the first such detection for any γ-ray burst. The X-ray transient was found to contain a significant fraction of the total energy of the γ-ray burst and, following the initial detection4 eight hours after the main burst, faded within a few days with a power-law decay function. The rapid locating of this γ-ray burst instigated a multi-wavelength observational campaign that culminated in the identification5 of a fading optical transient in a position consistent6 with the X-ray transient reported here.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

• Purchase on SpringerLink
• Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

• Log in
• Learn about institutional subscriptions
• Read our FAQs
• Contact customer support

Figure 1: Time profile of GRB970228 in the γ-ray (from the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor) and X-ray (from the Wide Field Camera) bands.

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Figure 2: False-colour images of the source 1SAX J0501.

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Figure 3: Variation of source flux with time in the 2–10keV range.

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

1. Fishman, G. J. & Meegan, C. A. Gamma ray bursts. Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 33, 415–458 (1995).
   Article ADS Google Scholar
2. Boella, G. et al. Beppo SAX, the wide band mission for X-ray astronomy. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 122, 299–307 (1997).
   Article ADS Google Scholar
3. Costa, E. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6572((1997).
   Google Scholar
4. Costa, E. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6576((1997).
   Google Scholar
5. van Paradijs, J. et al. Transient optical emission from the error box of the γ-ray burst of 28 February 1997. Nature 386, 686–688 (1997).
   Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
6. Frontera, F. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6637(1997).
   Google Scholar
7. Vrba, F. Searches for gamma-ray bursts counterparts: current status and future prospects. 565–574 (AIP Proc. 384, Am. Inst. Phys., Huntsville, AL, (1996)).
   Google Scholar
8. Piro, L., Scarsi, L. & Butler, R. C. in X-Ray and EUV/FUV Spectroscopy and Polarimetry(ed. Fenischi, S.) 169–181 (SPIE 2517, San Diego, (1995)).
   Book Google Scholar
9. Costa, E. et al. The gamma-ray burst monitor onboard SAX. Adv. Space Res.(submitted).
10. Frontera, F. et al. The high energy instruments PDS on-board the BeppoSAX X-ray astronomy satellite. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 122, 357–369 (1997).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
11. Jager, R. et al. The Wide Field cameras onboard the BeppoSAX X-ray astronomy satellite. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser.(submitted).
12. Parmar, A. et al. The low energy concentrator spectrometer on-board the BeppoSAX X-ray astronomy satellite. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 122, 309–326 (1997).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
13. Boella, G. et al. The medium energy concentrator spectrometer on-board the BeppoSAX X-ray astronomy satellite. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 122, 327–340 (1997).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
14. Manzo, G. et al. The high pressure gas scintillation proportional counter on-board the BeppoSAX X-ray astronomy satellite. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 122, 341–356 (1997).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
15. Hurley, K. et al. 3rd Interplanetary Network localization, time history, fluence, and peak flux of the February 28, 1997 gamma-ray burst. Astrophys. J. Lett.(in the press).
16. Boller, T. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6580(1997).
    Google Scholar
17. Warwick, R. & Stewart, G. in Proc. 23rd ESLAB Symp. on Two-Topics in X-Ray Astronomy(eds Hunt, J. & Batteick, B.) 727–731 (SP-296, ESA, Bologna, (1989)).
    Google Scholar
18. Cline, T. L. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6593(1997).
    Google Scholar
19. Galama, T. J. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6574(1997).
    Google Scholar
20. Frail, D. A. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6576(1997).
    Google Scholar
21. Metzger, R. M. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6588(1997).
    Google Scholar
22. Pedersen, H. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6580(1997).
    Google Scholar
23. Wagner, et al. IAU Circ. No. 6581(1997).
    Google Scholar
24. Tonry, J. L. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6620(1997).
    Google Scholar
25. Metzger, M. R. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6631(1997).
    Google Scholar
26. Guarnieri, A. et al. Earliest detection of an optical transient following the gamma-ray burst GRB970228. Astron. Astrophys. Lett.(submitted).
27. Margon, B. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6618(1997).
    Google Scholar
28. Pedichini, F. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6635(1997).
    Google Scholar
29. Sahu, K. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6606(1997).
    Google Scholar
30. Sahu, K. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6619(1997).
    Google Scholar
31. Costa, E. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6533(1997).
    Google Scholar
32. Castro-Tirado, A. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6598(1997).
    Google Scholar
33. Georgentopoulos, I. et al. ASCA observations of deep ROSAT fields I: the nature of the X-ray source populations. Mon. Nat. R. Astron. Soc.(in the press).
34. Yoshida, A. et al. IAU Circ. No. 6593(1997).
    Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research is supported by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche of Italy. Beppo-SAX is a joint program of ASI and the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programs (NIVR). We thank the staff at the Beppo-SAX Scientific Operation Centre and the Operation Control Centre for their contributions to the GRB research program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. *Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale, CNR, Via E. Fermi 21, I-00044, Frascati, Italy
   M. Feroci, M. N. Cinti, M. Rapisarda# & L. Piro
2. †Istituto Tecnologie e Studio Radiazioni Extraterrestri, CNR, Via Gobetti 101, I-40129, Bologna, Italy
   F. Frontera, D. Dal Fiume, L. Nicastro, M. Orlandini & E. Palazzi
3. ‡Dipartimento di Fisica, Università Ferrara, Via Paradiso 12, I-44100, Ferrara, Italy
   F. Frontera & G. Zavattini
4. §Space Research Organization in the Netherlands, Sorbonnelaan 2, 3584 CA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
   J. Heise, J. in 't Zand, R. Jager & J. M. Muller
5. ‖Beppo-SAX Scientific Data Center, Via Corcolle 19, I-00131, Roma, Italy
   F. Fiore, L. A. Antonelli, P. Giommi & J. M. Muller
6. ¶Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Monteporzio, I-00040, Roma, Italy
   F. Fiore
7. #Fusion Division, Neutronic Section, ENEA, Via E. Fermi 45, I-00044, Frascati, Italy

M. Rapisarda# 8. ☆Astrophysics Division, Space Science Department of ESA, ESTEC, PO Box 299, 2200, AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
A. Parmar & A. Owens 9. **Istituto di Fisica Cosmica e Tecnologie Relative, CNR, Via Bassini 15, I-20133, Milano, Italy
S. Molendi 10. ††Istituto di Fisica Cosmica e Applicazioni Informatica, CNR, Via U. La Malfa 153, I-90139, Palermo, Italy
G. Cusumano, M. C. Maccarone & S. Giarrusso 11. ‡‡Beppo-SAX Science Operation Center, Via Corcolle 19, I-00131, Roma, Italy
A. Coletta 12. §§Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Viale Regina Margherita 202, I-00198, Roma, Italy
R. C. Butler 13. Correspondence should be addressed to E.C.,
E. Costa

Authors

1. E. Costa
2. F. Frontera
3. J. Heise
4. M. Feroci
5. J. in 't Zand
6. F. Fiore
7. M. N. Cinti
8. D. Dal Fiume
9. L. Nicastro
10. M. Orlandini
11. E. Palazzi
12. M. Rapisarda#
13. G. Zavattini
14. R. Jager
15. A. Parmar
16. A. Owens
17. S. Molendi
18. G. Cusumano
19. M. C. Maccarone
20. S. Giarrusso
21. A. Coletta
22. L. A. Antonelli
23. P. Giommi
24. J. M. Muller
25. L. Piro
26. R. C. Butler

Corresponding author

Correspondence toE. Costa.

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Costa, E., Frontera, F., Heise, J. et al. Discovery of an X-ray afterglow associated with the γ-ray burst of 28 February 1997.Nature 387, 783–785 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/42885

Download citation

• Received: 09 April 1997
• Accepted: 22 May 1997
• Issue date: 19 June 1997
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/42885

This article is cited by