JWST’s Dusty Blue BOAT - GRB 221009A

Abstract GRB 221009A, the Brightest Of All Time (BOAT), presents a challenge for afterglow modelling due to its low Galactic latitude and consequent high line-of-sight extinction. This has led to a wide range of conflicting values for the optical spectral index and dust extinction in the literature. We present a re-analysis of the afterglow spectra, using VLT X-Shooter data at 0.5, 4, and 10.5 days, and JWST NIRSpec/MIRI data at 13.3 days post-burst. We fit the data with single and smoothly broken power-law models and perform a joint fit with a double smoothly broken power-law (DSBPL) across all epochs. Our analysis reveals a strong degeneracy between the assumed extinction and the inferred intrinsic spectral index, particularly in the optical, explaining the diversity of previous results. The joint DSBPL fit yields a total line-of-sight extinction of AV = 4.40 ± 0.01 and a blue continuum, with an intrinsic spectral index of β = 0.447 ± 0.001. Although marginally preferred by the spectral fits, a wind medium can be rejected by the temporal evolution of the afterglow light curve. The fit spectral index and temporal decline are only consistent with a uniform density medium if an early jet break at ∼0.5-1.0 days is invoked. Our results imply a hard electron distribution index of p = 1.89 < 2, challenging standard particle acceleration models and suggesting a narrow, energetic jet core dominates the early optical-to-X-ray emission.