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A possible macronova in the late afterglow of the long–short burst GRB 060614

Author

Listed:
  • Bin Yang

    (Key Laboratory of Dark Matter and Space Astronomy, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhi-Ping Jin

    (Key Laboratory of Dark Matter and Space Astronomy, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiang Li

    (Key Laboratory of Dark Matter and Space Astronomy, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Stefano Covino

    (INAF/Brera Astronomical Observatory)

  • Xian-Zhong Zheng

    (Key Laboratory of Dark Matter and Space Astronomy, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Kenta Hotokezaka

    (Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University)

  • Yi-Zhong Fan

    (Key Laboratory of Dark Matter and Space Astronomy, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Astronomy and Space Exploration, Nanjing University)

  • Tsvi Piran

    (Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University)

  • Da-Ming Wei

    (Key Laboratory of Dark Matter and Space Astronomy, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Long-duration (>2 s) γ-ray bursts that are believed to originate from the death of massive stars are expected to be accompanied by supernovae. GRB 060614, that lasted 102 s, lacks a supernova-like emission down to very stringent limits and its physical origin is still debated. Here we report the discovery of near-infrared bump that is significantly above the regular decaying afterglow. This red bump is inconsistent with even the weakest known supernova. However, it can arise from a Li-Paczyński macronova—the radioactive decay of debris following a compact binary merger. If this interpretation is correct, GRB 060614 arose from a compact binary merger rather than from the death of a massive star and it was a site of a significant production of heavy r-process elements. The significant ejected mass favours a black hole–neutron star merger but a double neutron star merger cannot be ruled out.

Suggested Citation

  • Bin Yang & Zhi-Ping Jin & Xiang Li & Stefano Covino & Xian-Zhong Zheng & Kenta Hotokezaka & Yi-Zhong Fan & Tsvi Piran & Da-Ming Wei, 2015. "A possible macronova in the late afterglow of the long–short burst GRB 060614," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-5, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8323
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8323
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