12 Jun 2003 | K. Z. Stanek, T. Matheson, P. M. Garnavich, P. Martini, P. Berlind, N. Caldwell, P. Challis, W. R. Brown, R. Schild, K. Krisciunas, M. L. Calkins, J. C. Lee, N. Hathi, R. A. Jansen, R. Windhorst, L. Echevarria, D. J. Eisenstein, B. Pindor, E. W. Olszewski, P. Harding, S. T. Holland, D. Bersier
The paper presents early observations of the afterglow of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) 030329 and the spectroscopic discovery of its associated supernova, SN2003dh. Spectra were obtained from March 30.12 to April 8.13 UT, covering a wavelength range of 350 nm to 850 nm. Initially, the spectra showed a power-law continuum with narrow emission lines from HII regions, indicating a low redshift of \( z = 0.1687 \). However, spectra taken after April 5 exhibited broad peaks in flux characteristic of a supernova. Correcting for the afterglow emission, the supernova spectrum was found to be similar to that of the type Ic 'hypernova' SN 1998bw. This is the first direct, spectroscopic confirmation that some classical gamma-ray bursts originate from supernovae. The study provides convincing evidence that a supernova was associated with GRB 030329, marking a significant step in understanding the connection between GRBs and supernovae.The paper presents early observations of the afterglow of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) 030329 and the spectroscopic discovery of its associated supernova, SN2003dh. Spectra were obtained from March 30.12 to April 8.13 UT, covering a wavelength range of 350 nm to 850 nm. Initially, the spectra showed a power-law continuum with narrow emission lines from HII regions, indicating a low redshift of \( z = 0.1687 \). However, spectra taken after April 5 exhibited broad peaks in flux characteristic of a supernova. Correcting for the afterglow emission, the supernova spectrum was found to be similar to that of the type Ic 'hypernova' SN 1998bw. This is the first direct, spectroscopic confirmation that some classical gamma-ray bursts originate from supernovae. The study provides convincing evidence that a supernova was associated with GRB 030329, marking a significant step in understanding the connection between GRBs and supernovae.