GRB 000131 was a
gamma-ray burst (GRB) that was detected on 31 January 2000 at 14:59
UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly
luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing
gamma rays, the most energetic form of
electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived "afterglow" emitted at longer wavelengths (
X-ray,
ultraviolet,
optical,
infrared, and
radio).
Observations
GRB 000131 was detected on 31 January 2000 at 14:59
UTC by
Ulysses,
KONUS,
NEAR Shoemaker, and
BATSE. It lasted approximately 90 seconds.[1] The initial position, derived from the observations of all the aforementioned spacecraft, was estimated at a
right ascension of 6h 13m 32.72s and a
declination of −51° 55′ 36.77″.[2] On 4 February 2000, optical observations of the region were made by telescopes at
Paranal Observatory and
La Silla Observatory in
Chile which revealed the burst's optical afterglow.[3]
Distance record
GRB 000131 had a
redshift of approximately z = 4.5.[4] This corresponds to a distance of about 11 billion
light years, making it the most distant gamma-ray burst that had ever been recorded up to that date.[5] This distance record was broken by
GRB 050904, which had a redshift of z = 6.29.[6][7]
Optical emission
GRB 000131 was the first gamma-ray burst to have its optical afterglow detected by an 8-meter telescope. At the time of its discovery, GRB 000131 was the most distant burst ever detected. However, it was not the most energetic: assuming
isotropic emission, the total energy output of the burst was approximately 1054ergs, placing it in second behind
GRB 990123. Furthermore, the gamma-ray data also suggested that the burst was beamed rather than isotropic, a characteristic which would further decrease the total energy output. This demonstrated the importance of the use of optical telescopes in the studies of gamma-ray bursts.[8]
