Time-dependent thermal X-ray afterglows from GRBs

Abstract

Time-dependent thermal X-ray spectra are calculated from physically plausible conditions around GRB. It is shown that account for time-dependent ionization processes strongly affects the observed spectra of hot rarefied plasma. These calculations may provide an alternative explanation to the observed X-ray lines of early GRBs afterglows (such as GRB 011211). Our technique will allow one to obtain independent constraints on the GRB collimation angle and on the clumpiness of circumstellar matter.

11 pages, LaTeX, 8 figures; talk given at COSPAR meeting on October, 12 (2002), Houston; short version to appear in the proceedings, extended version submitted to Astron. Letters (November, 2002)