Classification of long Gamma Ray Bursts using cosmologically corrected temporal estimators

Abstract

The canonical classification of GRBs establishes two types of bursts, long and short. Although an intermediate class of GRBs was suggested, its existence is not yet conclusive. In the present work, we explore the temporal classification of GRBs in the burst frame, because in recent years the statistics of bursts with known redshifts has increased. We studied a sample of Swift GRBs with known redshifts to determine three different time estimators: autocorrelation functions, emission times and duration times. In order to look for a subclass in long GRBs, we studied the distribution of the cosmologically corrected time estimators. The distribution of time estimators of the sample suggests an internal division of long GRBs. The proposed bimodality is also supported in the isotropic luminosity - time estimator planes and we discuss some possible implications of the classification of GRBs in the burst frame.