English

Classification and Characteristics of Double-trigger Gamma-ray Bursts

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2025-12-30 v1

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the \textit{Swift} and \textit{Fermi} missions have identified a rare class of ``double-trigger'' gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that produce two independent trigger events. These events are characterized by a sufficiently long quiescent period during which the on-board trigger system can reset, resulting in the subsequent emission being recorded as a second independent event. Consistent sky localization confirms that both trigger events originated from the same astrophysical source. Here, we present a systematic classification and characteristics study of three such cases: GRB 091024A, GRB 110709B, and GRB 220627A. We investigate each trigger episode emission independently using standard classification diagnostics, including duration (T90T_{90}), hardness ratio, minimum variability timescale (MVT), spectral lag (τlag\tau_{\rm lag}), peak energy (EpE_{\rm p}), and energetics. We compare these properties with those of typical long GRBs (LGRBs) and with single-trigger LGRBs that exhibit extended quiescent periods. Our analysis reveals that all sub-bursts from the three double-trigger events consistently lie within the LGRB classification region. These results indicate that double-trigger GRBs are not a physically distinct subclass, but rather products of LGRB central engines that undergo extended dormancy and subsequent reactivation.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2512.23660,
  title  = {Classification and Characteristics of Double-trigger Gamma-ray Bursts},
  author = {Liang Li},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.23660},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

23 pages, 7 figures (including 21 panels), 4 tables

R2 v1 2026-07-01T08:44:41.955Z