Short Gamma-Ray Bursts following mergers of an ONeMg with a CO white dwarf

Abstract

We discuss a scenario of short Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) following a merger of a massive ONeMg white dwarf (WD) with a CO WD, and an ensuing accretion induced collapse (AIC). An initial system with the primary mass $M_1 \sim 6-10 \, M_\odot$ and the secondary mass $M_2 \sim 3-6\, M_\odot$ forms, via two distinct evolutionary channels, a double degenerate CO-ONeMg WD system. For sufficiently large mass ratio $q \equiv M_2/M_1 > q_{crit} \sim 0.25$ the ensuing gravitational wave-driven mass transfer is unstable, whereby the less massive CO WD is disrupted and transfers its mass to the primary ONeMg WD on a few orbital time scales. The merger product ignites shell CO burning, adding mass to the degenerate core; at the same time mass and angular momentum is lost due to powerful winds. For an ONeMg WD sufficiently close to the Chandrasekhar mass an electron-capture accretion induced collapse (AIC) follows $\sim 10^4$ years afterwards. We associate the prompt short GRB emission with a direct collapse of an ONeMg WD to a neutron star, without formation of an accretion disk. After the collapse the accretion of the unburnt part of the shell onto the newly formed NS powers the extended emission (EE). During the collapse the neutron star is spun to millisecond periods and produce long lasting relativistic winds that shock against the material lost during the shell-burning stage, and produce afterglow emission from the wind termination shock.