2026ApJ...997L..17W


Query : 2026ApJ...997L..17W

2026ApJ...997L..17W - Astrophys. J., 997, L17 (2026/January-3)

Spectral Shapes of Pair Annihilation Line Emission in Magnetar Giant Flares.

WADA T. and KIMURA S.S.

Abstract (from CDS):

We investigate the gamma-ray spectrum in the MeV range arising from electron-positron pair annihilation in fireballs associated with magnetar giant flares (MGFs), motivated by the recent observation of a MeV gamma-ray line feature in a bright gamma-ray burst, GRB 221009A. We develop an analytic model of line emission, demonstrating that relativistic beaming results in a broadened power-law spectral feature with a photon index of -1. We then perform Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations incorporating electron-positron pair production, annihilation, and Compton scattering. The dependence of the emergent spectrum on the baryon loading is also examined, showing that a baryon-poor fireball is more favorable for the detection of MeV gamma rays. We further assess the detectability of the line component. The simulation results indicate that a power-law MeV component from the initial spike of a Galactic MGF could be observed with current instruments, such as Fermi/GBM, and will be well within the reach of upcoming MeV gamma-ray satellites, which are expected to detect ${ \mathcal O }(100)$ photons from such events.

Abstract Copyright: © 2026. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.

Journal keyword(s): Neutron stars - Magnetars - Gamma-ray transient sources - High energy astrophysics

Simbad objects: 5

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Number of rows : 5
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA
ICRS (J2000)
DEC
Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2026
#notes
1 PSR B0525-66 Psr 05 26 00.7 -66 04 35           ~ 569 1
2 PSR J1808-2024 Psr 18 08 39.32 -20 24 40.1           ~ 1316 2
3 GBS 1900+14 gB 19 07 13 +09 19.6           ~ 906 0
4 GRB 221009A gB 19 13 03.85 +19 46 22.7           ~ 433 0
5 GRB 221023A gB ~ ~           ~ 12 0

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