Speaker
Description
The prompt emission of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) has traditionally been studied in the gamma-ray energy domain (ranging from a 10 keV to ~10 MeV). However, observations in this regime have revealed inconsistencies with standard non-thermal emission models, suggesting the need for a broader investigation across different energy bands. The Swift/XRT, with its rapid on-board follow-up capabilities, has made it possible to capture the prompt emission phase in the soft X-ray domain (0.3–10 keV), thus covering a critical gap in our understanding of GRB emission mechanism.
In the last 20 years, approximately 200 GRBs have been observed in the soft X-ray band during their prompt emission phase, with 50 of these events coinciding with the brightest MeV pulses. This unique dataset has allowed for the systematic extension of prompt emission spectra into the soft X-ray regime, uncovering key spectral features such as low-energy spectral hardening (breaks). These features are fundamental in refining our theoretical models of GRB prompt emission.
In this work, I present a comprehensive study of GRBs observed by Swift/XRT during their prompt emission phase. I will also discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of the prompt emission mechanism.
