A Search for Millilensing Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Observations of Fermi GBM

Millilensing of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is expected to manifest as multiple emission episodes in a single triggered GRB with similar light-curve patterns and similar spectrum properties. Identifying such lensed GRBs could help improve constraints on the abundance of compact dark matter. Here we present a systemic search for millilensing among 3000 GRBs observed by the Fermi GBM up to 2021 April. Eventually we find four interesting candidates by performing an autocorrelation test, hardness test, and time-integrated/resolved spectrum test. GRB 081126A and GRB 090717A are ranked as the first-class candidates based on their excellent performance in both temporal and spectrum analysis. GRB 081122A and GRB 110517B are ranked as the second-class candidates (suspected candidates), mainly because their two emission episodes show clear deviations in part of the time-resolved spectrum or in the time-integrated spectrum. Considering a point-mass model for the gravitational lens, our results suggest that the density parameter of lens objects with mass M (L) similar to 10(6) M (circle dot) is larger than 1.5 x 10(-3).

Automated summary

This paper presents a systematic search for millilensing and identifies four interesting candidates. The results suggest a high density parameter for the gravitational lens.