The X-ray afterglow of GRB980519

Abstract

Over a total of 20 gamma-ray bursts localized with arcmin accuracies, GRB980519 represents the 13th detected by the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras. An X-ray TOO observation performed by the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments, starting about 9.5 hours after the high energy event, revealed X-ray afterglow emission in the 0.1--10 keV energy range. The flux decay was particularly fast with a power-law index of ~ 1.8. This is the fastest decay so far measured. Signs of bursting activity are evident. The power-law spectral index of 2.8 (+0.6, -0.5) is quite soft but not unique among GRB afterglows.

2 pages; 3 EPS figures; requires aa.cls, psfig.sty; accepted for publication on A&AS (Proc. of ``Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Afterglow Era'', Rome 3-6 Nov. 1998.)