A tera-electron volt afterglow from a narrow jet in an extremely bright gamma-ray burst

LHAASO Collaboration*†; Zhen Cao; F Aharonian; Q An; Axikegu; L X Bai; Y X Bai; Y W Bao; D Bastieri; X J Bi; Y J Bi; J T Cai; Q Cao; W Y Cao; Zhe Cao; J Chang; J F Chang; E S Chen; Liang Chen; Lin Chen; Long Chen; M J Chen; M L Chen; Q H Chen; S H Chen; S Z Chen; T L Chen; Y Chen; H L Cheng; N Cheng; Y D Cheng; S W Cui; X H Cui; Y D Cui; B Z Dai; H L Dai; Z G Dai; Danzengluobu; D Della Volpe; X Q Dong; K K Duan; J H Fan; Y Z Fan; J Fang; K Fang; C F Feng; L Feng; S H Feng; X T Feng; Y L Feng; B Gao; C D Gao; L Q Gao; Q Gao; W Gao; W K Gao; M M Ge; L S Geng; G H Gong; Q B Gou; M H Gu; F L Guo; X L Guo; Y Q Guo; Y Y Guo; Y A Han; H H He; H N He; J Y He; X B He; Y He; M Heller; Y K Hor; B W Hou; C Hou; X Hou; H B Hu; Q Hu; S C Hu; D H Huang; T Q Huang; W J Huang; X T Huang; X Y Huang; Y Huang; Z C Huang; X L Ji; H Y Jia; K Jia; K Jiang; X W Jiang; Z J Jiang; M Jin; M M Kang; T Ke; D Kuleshov; K Kurinov; B B Li; Cheng Li; Cong Li; D Li; F Li; H B Li; H C Li; H Y Li; J Li; Jian Li; Jie Li; K Li; W L Li; W L Li; X R Li; Xin Li; Y Z Li; Zhe Li; Zhuo Li; E W Liang; Y F Liang; S J Lin; B Liu; C Liu; D Liu; H Liu; H D Liu; J Liu; J L Liu; J L Liu; J S Liu; J Y Liu; M Y Liu; R Y Liu; S M Liu; W Liu; Y Liu; Y N Liu; W J Long; R Lu; Q Luo; H K Lv; B Q Ma; L L Ma; X H Ma; J R Mao; Z Min; W Mitthumsiri; Y C Nan; Z W Ou; B Y Pang; P Pattarakijwanich; Z Y Pei; M Y Qi; Y Q Qi; B Q Qiao; J J Qin; D Ruffolo; A Sáiz; C Y Shao; L Shao; O Shchegolev; X D Sheng; H C Song; Y V Stenkin; V Stepanov; Y Su; Q N Sun; X N Sun; Z B Sun; P H T Tam; Z B Tang; W W Tian; C Wang; C B Wang; G W Wang; H G Wang; H H Wang; J C Wang; J S Wang; K Wang; L P Wang; L Y Wang; P H Wang; R Wang; W Wang; X G Wang; X Y Wang; Y Wang; Y D Wang; Y J Wang; Z H Wang; Z X Wang; Zhen Wang; Zheng Wang; D M Wei; J J Wei; Y J Wei; T Wen; C Y Wu; H R Wu; S Wu; X F Wu; Y S Wu; S Q Xi; J Xia; J J Xia; G M Xiang; D X Xiao; G Xiao; G G Xin; Y L Xin; Y Xing; Z Xiong; D L Xu; R F Xu; R X Xu; L Xue; D H Yan; J Z Yan; T Yan; C W Yang; F Yang; F F Yang; H W Yang; J Y Yang; L L Yang; M J Yang; R Z Yang; S B Yang; Y H Yao; Z G Yao; Y M Ye; L Q Yin; N Yin; X H You; Z Y You; Y H Yu; Q Yuan; H Yue; H D Zeng; T X Zeng; W Zeng; Z K Zeng; M Zha; B Zhang; B B Zhang; F Zhang; H M Zhang; H Y Zhang; J L Zhang; L X Zhang; L Zhang; P F Zhang; P P Zhang; R Zhang; S B Zhang; S R Zhang; S S Zhang; X Zhang; X P Zhang; Y F Zhang; Y Zhang; Yong Zhang; B Zhao; J Zhao; L Zhao; L Z Zhao; S P Zhao; F Zheng; J H Zheng; B Zhou; H Zhou; J N Zhou; P Zhou; R Zhou; X X Zhou; C G Zhu; F R Zhu; H Zhu; K J Zhu; X Zuo

doi:10.1126/science.adg9328

A tera-electron volt afterglow from a narrow jet in an extremely bright gamma-ray burst

Science. 2023 Jun 30;380(6652):1390-1396. doi: 10.1126/science.adg9328. Epub 2023 Jun 8.

Authors

LHAASO Collaboration*†; Zhen Cao^{1

2

3}, F Aharonian^{4

5}, Q An^{6

7}, Axikegu⁸, L X Bai⁹, Y X Bai^{1

3}, Y W Bao^{10

11}, D Bastieri¹², X J Bi^{1

2

3}, Y J Bi^{1

3}, J T Cai¹², Q Cao¹³, W Y Cao⁷, Zhe Cao^{6

7}, J Chang¹⁴, J F Chang^{1

3

6}, E S Chen^{1

2

3}, Liang Chen¹⁵, Lin Chen⁸, Long Chen⁸, M J Chen^{1

3}, M L Chen^{1

3

6}, Q H Chen⁸, S H Chen^{1

2

3}, S Z Chen^{1

3}, T L Chen¹⁶, Y Chen^{10

11}, H L Cheng^{2

16

17}, N Cheng^{1

3}, Y D Cheng^{1

3}, S W Cui¹³, X H Cui¹⁷, Y D Cui¹⁸, B Z Dai¹⁹, H L Dai^{1

3

6}, Z G Dai⁷, Danzengluobu¹⁶, D Della Volpe²⁰, X Q Dong^{1

2

3}, K K Duan¹⁴, J H Fan¹², Y Z Fan¹⁴, J Fang¹⁹, K Fang^{1

3}, C F Feng²¹, L Feng¹⁴, S H Feng^{1

3}, X T Feng²¹, Y L Feng¹⁶, B Gao^{1

3}, C D Gao²¹, L Q Gao^{1

2

3}, Q Gao¹⁶, W Gao^{1

3}, W K Gao^{1

2

3}, M M Ge¹⁹, L S Geng^{1

3}, G H Gong²², Q B Gou^{1

3}, M H Gu^{1

3

6}, F L Guo¹⁵, X L Guo⁸, Y Q Guo^{1

3}, Y Y Guo¹⁴, Y A Han²³, H H He^{1

2

3}, H N He¹⁴, J Y He¹⁴, X B He¹⁸, Y He⁸, M Heller²⁰, Y K Hor¹⁸, B W Hou^{1

2

3}, C Hou^{1

3}, X Hou²⁴, H B Hu^{1

2

3}, Q Hu^{7

14}, S C Hu^{1

2

3}, D H Huang⁸, T Q Huang^{1

3}, W J Huang¹⁸, X T Huang²¹, X Y Huang¹⁴, Y Huang^{1

2

3}, Z C Huang⁸, X L Ji^{1

3

6}, H Y Jia⁸, K Jia²¹, K Jiang^{6

7}, X W Jiang^{1

3}, Z J Jiang¹⁹, M Jin⁸, M M Kang⁹, T Ke^{1

3}, D Kuleshov²⁵, K Kurinov^{25

26}, B B Li¹³, Cheng Li^{6

7}, Cong Li^{1

3}, D Li^{1

2

3}, F Li^{1

3

6}, H B Li^{1

3}, H C Li^{1

3}, H Y Li^{7

14}, J Li^{7

14}, Jian Li⁷, Jie Li^{1

3

6}, K Li^{1

3}, W L Li²¹, W L Li²⁷, X R Li^{1

3}, Xin Li^{6

7}, Y Z Li^{1

2

3}, Zhe Li^{1

3}, Zhuo Li²⁸, E W Liang²⁹, Y F Liang²⁹, S J Lin¹⁸, B Liu⁷, C Liu^{1

3}, D Liu²¹, H Liu⁸, H D Liu²³, J Liu^{1

3}, J L Liu^{1

3}, J L Liu²⁷, J S Liu¹⁸, J Y Liu^{1

3}, M Y Liu¹⁶, R Y Liu^{10

11}, S M Liu⁸, W Liu^{1

3}, Y Liu¹², Y N Liu²², W J Long⁸, R Lu¹⁹, Q Luo¹⁸, H K Lv^{1

3}, B Q Ma²⁸, L L Ma^{1

3}, X H Ma^{1

3}, J R Mao²⁴, Z Min^{1

3}, W Mitthumsiri³⁰, Y C Nan^{1

3}, Z W Ou¹⁸, B Y Pang⁸, P Pattarakijwanich³⁰, Z Y Pei¹², M Y Qi^{1

3}, Y Q Qi¹³, B Q Qiao^{1

3}, J J Qin⁷, D Ruffolo³⁰, A Sáiz³⁰, C Y Shao¹⁸, L Shao¹³, O Shchegolev^{25

26}, X D Sheng^{1

3}, H C Song²⁸, Y V Stenkin^{25

26}, V Stepanov²⁵, Y Su¹⁴, Q N Sun⁸, X N Sun²⁹, Z B Sun³¹, P H T Tam¹⁸, Z B Tang^{6

7}, W W Tian^{2

17}, C Wang³¹, C B Wang⁸, G W Wang⁷, H G Wang¹², H H Wang¹⁸, J C Wang²⁴, J S Wang²⁷, K Wang^{10

11}, L P Wang²¹, L Y Wang^{1

3}, P H Wang⁸, R Wang²¹, W Wang¹⁸, X G Wang²⁹, X Y Wang^{10

11}, Y Wang⁸, Y D Wang^{1

3}, Y J Wang^{1

3}, Z H Wang⁹, Z X Wang¹⁹, Zhen Wang²⁷, Zheng Wang^{1

3

6}, D M Wei¹⁴, J J Wei¹⁴, Y J Wei^{1

2

3}, T Wen¹⁹, C Y Wu^{1

3}, H R Wu^{1

3}, S Wu^{1

3}, X F Wu¹⁴, Y S Wu⁷, S Q Xi^{1

3}, J Xia^{7

14}, J J Xia⁸, G M Xiang^{2

15}, D X Xiao¹³, G Xiao^{1

3}, G G Xin^{1

3}, Y L Xin⁸, Y Xing¹⁵, Z Xiong^{1

2

3}, D L Xu²⁷, R F Xu^{1

2

3}, R X Xu²⁸, L Xue²¹, D H Yan¹⁹, J Z Yan¹⁴, T Yan^{1

3}, C W Yang⁹, F Yang¹³, F F Yang^{1

3

6}, H W Yang¹⁸, J Y Yang¹⁸, L L Yang¹⁸, M J Yang^{1

3}, R Z Yang⁷, S B Yang¹⁹, Y H Yao⁹, Z G Yao^{1

3}, Y M Ye²², L Q Yin^{1

3}, N Yin²¹, X H You^{1

3}, Z Y You^{1

2

3}, Y H Yu⁷, Q Yuan¹⁴, H Yue^{1

2

3}, H D Zeng¹⁴, T X Zeng^{1

3

6}, W Zeng¹⁹, Z K Zeng^{1

2

3}, M Zha^{1

3}, B Zhang^{32

33}, B B Zhang¹⁰, F Zhang⁸, H M Zhang^{10

11}, H Y Zhang^{1

3}, J L Zhang¹⁷, L X Zhang¹², L Zhang¹⁹, P F Zhang¹⁹, P P Zhang^{7

14}, R Zhang^{7

14}, S B Zhang^{2

17}, S R Zhang¹³, S S Zhang^{1

3}, X Zhang^{10

11}, X P Zhang^{1

3}, Y F Zhang⁸, Y Zhang^{1

14}, Yong Zhang^{1

3}, B Zhao⁸, J Zhao^{1

3}, L Zhao^{6

7}, L Z Zhao¹³, S P Zhao^{14

21}, F Zheng³¹, J H Zheng^{10

11}, B Zhou^{1

3}, H Zhou²⁷, J N Zhou¹⁵, P Zhou¹⁰, R Zhou⁹, X X Zhou⁸, C G Zhu²¹, F R Zhu⁸, H Zhu¹⁷, K J Zhu^{1

2

3

6}, X Zuo^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics & Experimental Physics Division & Computing Center, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
³ Tianfu Cosmic Ray Research Center, 610000 Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
⁴ Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 31 Fitzwilliam Place, 2 Dublin, Ireland.
⁵ Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics, P.O. Box 103980, 69029 Heidelberg, Germany.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, China.
⁷ University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, Anhui, China.
⁸ School of Physical Science and Technology & School of Information Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University, 610031 Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
⁹ College of Physics, Sichuan University, 610065 Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
¹⁰ School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
¹¹ Key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics (Nanjing University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210023, China.
¹² Center for Astrophysics, Guangzhou University, 510006 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
¹³ Hebei Normal University, 050024 Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
¹⁴ Key Laboratory of Dark Matter and Space Astronomy & Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 210023 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
¹⁵ Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200030 Shanghai, China.
¹⁶ Key Laboratory of Cosmic Rays (Tibet University), Ministry of Education, 850000 Lhasa, Tibet, China.
¹⁷ National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China.
¹⁸ School of Physics and Astronomy (Zhuhai) & School of Physics (Guangzhou) & Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, 519000 Zhuhai & 510275 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
¹⁹ School of Physics and Astronomy, Yunnan University, 650091 Kunming, Yunnan, China.
²⁰ Département de Physique Nucléaire et Corpusculaire, Faculté de Sciences, Université de Genève, 24 Quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
²¹ Institute of Frontier and Interdisciplinary Science, Shandong University, 266237 Qingdao, Shandong, China.
²² Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China.
²³ School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
²⁴ Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650216 Kunming, Yunnan, China.
²⁵ Institute for Nuclear Research of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow, Russia.
²⁶ Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Moscow, Russia.
²⁷ Tsung-Dao Lee Institute & School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240 Shanghai, China.
²⁸ School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China.
²⁹ School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 530004 Nanning, Guangxi, China.
³⁰ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, 10400 Bangkok, Thailand.
³¹ National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China.
³² Nevada Center for Astrophysics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA.
³³ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA.

PMID: 37289911
DOI: 10.1126/science.adg9328

Abstract

Some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have a tera-electron volt (TeV) afterglow, but the early onset of this has not been observed. We report observations with the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) of the bright GRB 221009A, which serendipitously occurred within the instrument's field of view. More than 64,000 photons >0.2 TeV were detected within the first 3000 seconds. The TeV flux began several minutes after the GRB trigger and then rose to a peak ~10 seconds later. This was followed by a decay phase, which became more rapid ~650 seconds after the peak. We interpret the emission using a model of a relativistic jet with half-opening angle of ~0.8°. This is consistent with the core of a structured jet and could explain the high isotropic energy of this GRB.