A systematic analysis of X-ray afterglows of gamma-ray burst observed by XMM-Newton

Abstract

This work is part of a systematic re-analysis program of all the data of gamma-ray burst (GRB) X-ray afterglows observed so far, in order to constrain the GRB models. We present here a systematic analysis of those afterglows observed by XMM-Newton between January 2000 and March 2004. This dataset includes GRB 011211 and GRB 030329. We have obtained spectra, light curves and colors for these afterglows. In this paper we focus on the continuum spectral and temporal behavior. We compare these values with the theoretical ones expected from the fireball model. We derive constraints about the burst environment (absorption, density profile) and put constraints on their beaming angle. (c) 2004 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.