GCN Circular 34753
Subject
GRB 230918B: VLT/X-shooter classification of AT 2023tbf (GOTO23aky) as a dwarf nova
Date
2023-09-20T22:32:36Z (2 years ago)
From
Daniele B. Malesani at IMAPP / Radboud University <d.malesani@astro.ru.nl>
Via
Web form
A. Saccardi (GEPI/Paris Obs.), L. Izzo (INAF/OACn & DARK/NBI), J. T. Palmerio (GEPI/Paris Obs. & IAP), D. B. Malesani (Radboud Univ. & DAWN/NBI), P. D'Avanzo (INAF-OABr), V. D’Elia (ASI-SSDC & INAF-OAR), M. Della Valle (INAF/OAC), D. H. Hartmann (Clemson Univ.), K. E. Heintz (DAWN/NBI), P. Jakobsson (U. of Iceland), L. Kaper (U. of Amsterdam), G. Leloudas (DTU Space), A. J. Levan (Radboud Univ.), A. Martin-Carrillo (UCD), B. Schneider (MIT), S. Schulze (OKC), A. de Ugarte Postigo (OCA), and K. Wiersema (U. of Hertfordshire) report on behalf of the Stargate collaboration:
We observed the transient AT 2023tbf (GOTO23aky; Gompertz et al., GCN 34738), spatially and temporally consistent with the Fermi GBM GRB 230918B (Fermi GBM team; GCN 34734). We used the ESO VLT UT3 (Melipal) equipped with the X-shooter spectrograph, starting on 2023 September 20.093 UT. Our data cover the wavelength range 3000-24800 AA and consist of 4 exposures of 600 s each.
In the acquisition image, taken on 2023 Sep 20.086 UT, we measure for the transient a magnitude r = 19.64 +- 0.05 AB (calibrated against a single nearby star from the SkyMapper catalog).
A strong continuum is detected in the blue end of the spectrum, with a decreasing signal towards the VIS and NIR arms. The UVB shows several broad undulations, not seen in GRB afterglow spectra; in the VIS and NIR arms, the continuum is smoother.
The source shows narrow absorption from Ca H and K a z = 0, as well as broad features in correspondence of the Balmer lines, at least H-beta to H-eta, all at z = 0. No features are identified at z > 0. Comparison with template spectra (e.g. Morales-Rueda & Marsh, 2002, MNRAS, 332, 814) allows us to classify AT 2023tbf as a dwarf nova. We thus conclude that AT 2023tbf is not a GRB afterglow and is not associated with GRB 230918B.
We acknowledge excellent support from the observing staff at Paranal, in particular Ditte Slumstrup, Xavier Haubois, Francisco Caceres and Paulina Venegas.