Probing the Nature of High-redshift Long GRB 250114A and Its Magnetar Central Engine
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: GRB 250114A is a long-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) that triggered the Swift/Burst Alert Telescope with a spectroscopic high redshift at z = 4.732. The light curve of the prompt emission is composed of three distinct emission episodes, which are separated by quiescent gaps ranging from tens to hundreds of seconds. Meanwhile, the X-ray light curve exhibits the canonical X-ray emission that is composed of several power-law segments' superposition of a giant X-ray flare. More interestingly, there is still significant X-ray emission during the quiescent time in the prompt emission, suggesting a continuously active central engine whose power fluctuates across the gamma-ray detectability threshold. In this paper, we propose a magnetar as the central engine of GRB 250114A by fitting the X-ray light curve and infer a magnetic field strength B p = 13.2 4 − 5.84 + 1.73 × 1 0 15 G and an initial spin period P 0 = 14.3 1 − 3.16 + 0.93 ms of magnetar, with a jet correction, fall within a reasonable range. Furthermore, we also compare the prompt emission, X-ray afterglow, E p – E γ ,iso , and ε − distribution of GBR 250114A with those of other high- z sample-GRBs and find no significant statistical differences between them.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Institution: Guangxi University
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Awards: G1585798234, G4330545635, G8502922371
OpenAlex ID: W4417423345