GRB 080913 at redshift 6.7

J. Greiner, T. Krühler, J. P. U. Fynbo, A. Rossi, R. Schwarz, S. Klose, S. Savaglio, N. R. Tanvir, S. McBreen, T. Totani, B. B. Zhang, X. F. Wu, D. Watson, S. D. Barthelmy, A. P. Beardmore, P. Ferrero, N. Gehrels, D. A. Kann, N. Kawai, A. Küpcü YoldasP. Mészáros, B. Milvang-Jensen, S. R. Oates, D. Pierini, P. Schady, K. Toma, P. M. Vreeswijk, A. Yoldas, B. Zhang, P. Afonso, K. Aoki, D. N. Burrows, C. Clemens, R. Filgas, Z. Haiman, D. H. Hartmann, G. Hasinger, J. Hjorth, E. Jehin, A. J. Levan, E. W. Liang, D. Malesani, T.-S. Pyo, S. Schulze, G. Szokoly, K. Terada, K. Wiersema

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Abstract

We report on the detection by Swift of GRB 080913, and subsequent optical/near-infrared follow-up observations by GROND, which led to the discovery of its optical/NIR afterglow and the recognition of its high-z nature via the detection of a spectral break between the i' and z' bands. Spectroscopy obtained at the ESO-VLT revealed a continuum extending down to ¿ = 9400 Å, and zero flux for 7500 Å<¿ < 9400 Å, which we interpret as the onset of a Gunn-Peterson trough at z = 6.695± 0.025 (95.5% confidence level), making GRB 080913 the highest-redshift gamma-ray burst (GRB) to date, and more distant than the highest-redshift QSO. We note that many redshift indicators that are based on promptly available burst or afterglow properties have failed for GRB 080913. We report on our follow-up campaign and compare the properties of GRB 080913 with bursts at lower redshift. In particular, since the afterglow of this burst is fainter than typical for GRBs, we show that 2 m class telescopes can identify most high-redshift GRBs.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume693
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)1610-1620
Number of pages10
ISSN0004-637X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Bibliographical note

Keywords: early universe; gamma rays: bursts; radiation mechanisms: non-thermal

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