Bridging the Gap: GRB 230812B—A 3 s Supernova-associated Burst Detected by the GRID Mission

Abstract

GRB 230812B, detected by the Gamma-Ray Integrated Detectors constellation mission, is an exceptionally bright gamma-ray burst (GRB) with a duration of only 3 s. Sitting near the traditional boundary (∼2 s) between long and short GRBs, GRB 230812B is notably associated with a supernova, indicating a massive star progenitor. This makes it a rare example of a short-duration GRB resulting from stellar collapse. Our analysis, using a time-evolving synchrotron model, suggests that the burst has an emission radius of approximately 1014.5 cm. We propose that the short duration of GRB 230812B is due to the combined effects of the central engine's activity time and the time required for the jet to break through the stellar envelope. Our findings provide another case that challenges the conventional view that short-duration GRBs originate exclusively from compact object mergers, demonstrating that a broader range of durations exists for GRBs arising from the collapse of massive stars.