Shallow decay phase of GRB X-ray afterglows from relativistic windbubbles

Abstract

Aims.The postburst object of a GRB is likely to be a highly magnetized, rapidly rotating compact object (e.g., a millisecond magnetar), which could produce an ultrarelativistic electron-positron-pair wind. The interaction of such a wind with an outwardly expanding fireball ejected during the burst leads to a relativistic wind bubble (RWB). We investigate the properties of RWBs and use this model to explain the shallow decay phase of the early X-ray afterglows observed by Swift.