GRB 000131
Encyclopedia
GRB 000131 was a gamma-ray burst (GRB) that was detected on 31 January 2000 at 14:59 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous
flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma ray
s, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation
, and often followed by a longer-lived "afterglow" emitted at longer wavelengths (X-ray
, ultraviolet
, optical, infrared
, and radio
).
, and BATSE. It lasted approximately 90 seconds. The initial position, derived from the observations of all the aforementioned spacecraft, was estimated at a right ascension
of and a declination
of . On 4 February 2000, optical observations of the region were made by telescopes at Paranal Observatory
and La Silla Observatory
which revealed the burst's optical afterglow.
of approximately z = 4.5, This corresponds to a distance of about 11 billion light years, making it the most distant gamma-ray burst that had ever been recorded up to that date. This distance record was broken by GRB 050904
, which had a redshift of z = 6.29.
s, placing it in second behind GRB 990123
. Furthermore, the gamma-ray data also suggested that the burst was beamed rather than isotropic, a characteristics which would further decrease the total energy output. This demonstrated the importance of the use of optical telescopes in the studies of gamma-ray bursts.
Luminosity
Luminosity is a measurement of brightness.-In photometry and color imaging:In photometry, luminosity is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to luminance, which is the density of luminous intensity in a given direction. The SI unit for luminance is candela per square metre.The luminosity function...
flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma ray
Gamma ray
Gamma radiation, also known as gamma rays or hyphenated as gamma-rays and denoted as γ, is electromagnetic radiation of high frequency . Gamma rays are usually naturally produced on Earth by decay of high energy states in atomic nuclei...
s, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
, and often followed by a longer-lived "afterglow" emitted at longer wavelengths (X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
, ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
, optical, infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
, and radio
Radio waves
Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum longer than infrared light. Radio waves have frequencies from 300 GHz to as low as 3 kHz, and corresponding wavelengths from 1 millimeter to 100 kilometers. Like all other electromagnetic waves,...
).
Observations
GRB 000131 was detected on 31 January 2000 at 14:59 UTC by Ulysses, KONUS, NEAR ShoemakerNEAR Shoemaker
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous - Shoemaker , renamed after its 1996 launch in honor of planetary scientist Eugene M. Shoemaker, was a robotic space probe designed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory for NASA to study the near-Earth asteroid Eros from close orbit over a...
, and BATSE. It lasted approximately 90 seconds. The initial position, derived from the observations of all the aforementioned spacecraft, was estimated at a right ascension
Right ascension
Right ascension is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.-Explanation:...
of and a declination
Declination
In astronomy, declination is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Declination in astronomy is comparable to geographic latitude, but projected onto the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees north and...
of . On 4 February 2000, optical observations of the region were made by telescopes at Paranal Observatory
Paranal Observatory
Paranal Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on Cerro Paranal at 2,635 m altitude and operated by the European Southern Observatory. The Very Large Telescope is the largest telescope on Paranal, actually composed of four separate 8.2 m telescopes...
and La Silla Observatory
La Silla Observatory
La Silla Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Chile with three telescopes built and operated by the European Southern Observatory organisation, and several others are partly maintained by ESO...
which revealed the burst's optical afterglow.
Distance record
GRB 000131 had a redshiftRedshift
In physics , redshift happens when light seen coming from an object is proportionally increased in wavelength, or shifted to the red end of the spectrum...
of approximately z = 4.5, This corresponds to a distance of about 11 billion light years, making it the most distant gamma-ray burst that had ever been recorded up to that date. This distance record was broken by GRB 050904
GRB 050904
GRB 050904 is one of the most distant events ever observed.This gamma ray burst occurred in the constellation Pisces.The bright γ-ray flash, lasting about 200 seconds, was detected on September 4, 2005 by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission....
, which had a redshift of z = 6.29.
Optical emission
GRB 000131 was the first gamma-ray burst to have its optical afterglow detected by an 8-meter telescope. At the time of its discovery, GRB 000131 was the most distant burst ever detected. However, it was not the most energetic: assuming isotropic emission, the total energy output of the burst was approximately 1054 ergErg
An erg is the unit of energy and mechanical work in the centimetre-gram-second system of units, symbol "erg". Its name is derived from the Greek ergon, meaning "work"....
s, placing it in second behind GRB 990123
GRB 990123
GRB 990123 is a gamma-ray burst that occurred on January 23, 1999. It was the first GRB for which a simultaneous optical flash was detected. GRB 990123 is one of the most distant distinct landmarks in our map of the universe....
. Furthermore, the gamma-ray data also suggested that the burst was beamed rather than isotropic, a characteristics which would further decrease the total energy output. This demonstrated the importance of the use of optical telescopes in the studies of gamma-ray bursts.