Polarization Evolution of the GRB 020405 Afterglow
/ Authors
S. Covino, D. Malesani, G. Ghisellini, D. Lazzati, S. D. Alighieri, M. Stefanon, A. Cimatti, M. Valle, F. Fiore, P. Goldoni
and 9 more authors
N. Kawai, G. Israel, E. Floc’h, I. Mirabel, G. Ricker, P. Saracco, L. Stella, G. Tagliaferri, F. Zerbi
/ Abstract
Polarization measurements for the optical counterpart to GRB 020405 are presented and discussed. Our observations were performed with the VLT-UT3 (Melipal) during the second and third night after the gamma-ray burst discovery. The polarization degree (and the position angle) appears to be constant between our two observations at a level around (1.5 - 2)%. The polarization can be intrinsic but it is not possible to unambiguously exclude that a substantial fraction of it is induced by dust in the host galaxy.
Journal: arXiv: Astrophysics