On the nature of late X-ray flares in <i>Swift</i> gamma-ray bursts
On the nature of late X-ray flares in <i>Swift</i> gamma-ray bursts
Context. Previously detected in only a few gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), X-ray flares are now observed in ∼50% of Swift GRBs, though their origins remain unclear. Most flares are seen early on in the afterglow decay, while some bursts exhibit flares at late times of 104 to 105 s, which may …