Swift identification of dark gamma-ray bursts

We present an optical flux versus X-ray flux diagram for all known gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) for which an X-ray afterglow has been detected. We propose an operational definition of dark bursts as those bursts that are optically subluminous with respect to the fireball model, i.e., that have an optical - to - X-ray spectral index beta(ox) < 0.5. Out of a sample of 52 GRBs, we identify five dark bursts. The definition and diagram serve as a simple and quick diagnostic tool for identifying dark GRBs based on limited information, particularly useful for early and objective identification of dark GRBs observed with the Swift satellite.