2003ApJ...594L..89D

The relative proximity of the recent gamma-ray burst GRB 030329 resulted in a large gamma-ray fluence and in the brightest-ever afterglow (AG), hours after the burst, in the radio, optical, and X-ray bands, permitting precise AG measurements, sensitive tests of models, and an excellent occasion to investigate the association of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with supernovae (SNe). The Cannonball model provides a good, simple, and universal description of all AGs of GRBs of known redshift, so that it is straightforward to use it to predict what the expected SN signatures are. In the case of GRB 030329, 10 days after the burst, the AG should begin to reveal the light curve, spectrum, and polarization of an underlying SN–akin to SN 1998bw–which will peak in the optical band around day 15.