Diffusive photospheres in gamma-ray bursts

Abstract

ABSTRACTPhotospheric emission may originate from relativistic outflows in two qualitatively different regimes: last scattering of photons inside the outflow at the photospheric radius or radiative diffusion to the boundary of the outflow. In this work, the measurement of temperature and flux of the thermal component in the early afterglows of several gamma-ray bursts along with the total flux in the prompt phase is used to determine initial radii of the outflow as well as its Lorentz factors. Results indicate that in some cases the outflow has relatively low Lorentz factors (Γ < 10), favouring cocoon interpretation, while in other cases Lorentz factors are larger (Γ > 10), indicating diffusive photospheric origin of the thermal component, associated with an ultrarelativistic outflow.