Properties of a gamma-ray burst host galaxy AT z ∼ 5

P. A. Price; A. Songaila; L. L. Cowie; J. Bell Burnell; E. Berger; A. Cucchiara; D. B. Fox; I. Hook; S. R. Kulkarni; B. Penprase; K. C. Roth; B. Schmidt

doi:10.1086/520047

Properties of a gamma-ray burst host galaxy AT z ∼ 5

P. A. Price, A. Songaila, L. L. Cowie, J. Bell Burnell, E. Berger, A. Cucchiara, D. B. Fox, I. Hook, S. R. Kulkarni, B. Penprase, K. C. Roth, B. Schmidt

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Abstract

We describe the properties of the host galaxy of the gamma-ray burst GRB 060510B based on a spectrum of the burst afterglow obtained with the Gemini North 8 m telescope. The galaxy lies at a redshift of z = 4.941, making it the fourth highest spectroscopically identified burst host. However, it is the second highest redshift galaxy for which the quality of the spectrum permits a detailed metallicity analysis. The neutral hydrogen column density has a logarithmic value of 21.0-21.2 cm^-2, and the weak metal lines of Ni, S, and Fe show that the metallicity is in excess of a tenth of solar, which is far above the metallicities in damped Lya absorbers at high redshift. The tightest constraint is from the Fe lines, which place [Fe/H] in excess of -0.8. We argue that the results suggest that metallicity bias could be a serious obstacle to inferring star formation from the GRB population, and we consider how future higher quality measurements could be used to resolve this issue.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L57-L60
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	663
Issue number	2 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/520047
State	Published - Jul 10 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/520047

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title = "Properties of a gamma-ray burst host galaxy AT z ∼ 5",

abstract = "We describe the properties of the host galaxy of the gamma-ray burst GRB 060510B based on a spectrum of the burst afterglow obtained with the Gemini North 8 m telescope. The galaxy lies at a redshift of z = 4.941, making it the fourth highest spectroscopically identified burst host. However, it is the second highest redshift galaxy for which the quality of the spectrum permits a detailed metallicity analysis. The neutral hydrogen column density has a logarithmic value of 21.0-21.2 cm-2, and the weak metal lines of Ni, S, and Fe show that the metallicity is in excess of a tenth of solar, which is far above the metallicities in damped Lya absorbers at high redshift. The tightest constraint is from the Fe lines, which place [Fe/H] in excess of -0.8. We argue that the results suggest that metallicity bias could be a serious obstacle to inferring star formation from the GRB population, and we consider how future higher quality measurements could be used to resolve this issue.",

author = "Price, {P. A.} and A. Songaila and Cowie, {L. L.} and {Bell Burnell}, J. and E. Berger and A. Cucchiara and Fox, {D. B.} and I. Hook and Kulkarni, {S. R.} and B. Penprase and Roth, {K. C.} and B. Schmidt",

year = "2007",

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doi = "10.1086/520047",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Price, P. A.

AU - Songaila, A.

AU - Cowie, L. L.

AU - Bell Burnell, J.

AU - Berger, E.

AU - Cucchiara, A.

AU - Fox, D. B.

AU - Hook, I.

AU - Kulkarni, S. R.

AU - Penprase, B.

AU - Roth, K. C.

AU - Schmidt, B.

PY - 2007/7/10

Y1 - 2007/7/10

N2 - We describe the properties of the host galaxy of the gamma-ray burst GRB 060510B based on a spectrum of the burst afterglow obtained with the Gemini North 8 m telescope. The galaxy lies at a redshift of z = 4.941, making it the fourth highest spectroscopically identified burst host. However, it is the second highest redshift galaxy for which the quality of the spectrum permits a detailed metallicity analysis. The neutral hydrogen column density has a logarithmic value of 21.0-21.2 cm-2, and the weak metal lines of Ni, S, and Fe show that the metallicity is in excess of a tenth of solar, which is far above the metallicities in damped Lya absorbers at high redshift. The tightest constraint is from the Fe lines, which place [Fe/H] in excess of -0.8. We argue that the results suggest that metallicity bias could be a serious obstacle to inferring star formation from the GRB population, and we consider how future higher quality measurements could be used to resolve this issue.

AB - We describe the properties of the host galaxy of the gamma-ray burst GRB 060510B based on a spectrum of the burst afterglow obtained with the Gemini North 8 m telescope. The galaxy lies at a redshift of z = 4.941, making it the fourth highest spectroscopically identified burst host. However, it is the second highest redshift galaxy for which the quality of the spectrum permits a detailed metallicity analysis. The neutral hydrogen column density has a logarithmic value of 21.0-21.2 cm-2, and the weak metal lines of Ni, S, and Fe show that the metallicity is in excess of a tenth of solar, which is far above the metallicities in damped Lya absorbers at high redshift. The tightest constraint is from the Fe lines, which place [Fe/H] in excess of -0.8. We argue that the results suggest that metallicity bias could be a serious obstacle to inferring star formation from the GRB population, and we consider how future higher quality measurements could be used to resolve this issue.

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JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 II

ER -

Properties of a gamma-ray burst host galaxy AT z ∼ 5

Abstract

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