2023ApJ...944L..34R

We present a multi-messenger model for the prompt emission from GRB 221009A within the internal shock scenario. We consider the time-dependent evolution of the outflow with its impact on the observed light curve from multiple collisions, as well as the self-consistent generation of the electromagnetic spectrum in synchrotron and inverse Compton-dominated scenarios. Our lepto-hadronic model includes UHE protons potentially accelerated in the outflow, and their feedback on spectral energy distribution and on the neutrino emission. We find that we can roughly reproduce the observed light curves with an engine with varying ejection velocity of ultrarelativistic material, which has an intermediate quiescent period of about 200 s and a variability timescale of ∼1 s. We consider baryonic loadings of 3 and 30 that are compatible with the hypothesis that the highest-energetic LHAASO photons might come from UHECR interactions with the extragalactic background light, and the paradigm that energetic GRBs may power the UHECR flux. For these values and the high dissipation radii considered, we find consistency with the nonobservation of neutrinos and no significant signatures on the electromagnetic spectrum. Inverse Compton-dominated scenarios from the prompt emission are demonstrated to lead to about an order of magnitude higher fluxes in the HE range; this enhancement is testable via its spectral impact in the Fermi-GBM and LAT ranges.