2006ApJ...646.1086H

A simple scheme delineates long GRBs with similar time histories using the internal luminosity function (ILF) power-law index and the spectral lag. Two generalizations are made about time history morphologies: (1) GRBs with long spectral lags contain fewer pulses that are broader than those found in bursts with short spectral lags, and (2) short-lag bursts with small ILF power-law indices have many narrow pulses and are highly variable, while long-lag bursts with small ILF power-law indices are characterized by broad, smooth pulses and have low variability. GRB time-history morphologies primarily identify intrinsic rather than extrinsic characteristics based on correlations with gamma-ray luminosity, afterglow luminosity, and number of pulses. These characteristics result because internal relativistic effects, due to bulk Lorentz factor, are larger than cosmological effects, and because the numbers and shapes of pulses indicate different efficiencies and forms of GRB energy release. Single-pulsed GRBs are characterized by either large ILF power indices (indicating a range of jet-opening angles and Lorentz factors with a FRED pulse shape), or long lags (large jet-opening angles with low Lorentz factors with either a FRED pulse shape or an unpeaked, smooth pulse shape). They also have lower luminosity afterglows than multipulsed GRBs. GRBs with simple time histories are often associated with Type Ibc supernovae. This suggests that some single-pulsed GRBs contain single, beamed blast waves that are similar to and have characteristics that overlap with those of many supernovae. Such a connection may not exist between multipulsed GRBs and supernovae.