GRB 141220A light curves

The temporal decay gradient of the optical light curves from 86 to ~2200s post-burst is typical of classical forward shocks with {alpha}=1.091+/-0.008. The low-optical polarization P_BV_=2.8_-1.6_^+2.0^ per cent (2{sigma}) at mean time ~168s post-burst is compatible with being induced by the host galaxy dust (A_V,HG_=0.71+/-0.15mag), leaving low polarization intrinsic to the GRB emission itself, as theoretically predicted for forward shocks and consistent with previous detections of low degrees of optical polarization in GRB afterglows observed hours to days after the burst.

The current sample of early-time polarization data from forward shocks suggests polarization from (a) the Galactic and host galaxy dust properties (i.e. P~1-3 per cent), (b) contribution from a polarized reverse shock (GRB deceleration time, jet magnetization) or (c) forward shock intrinsic polarization (i.e. P<=2 per cent), which depends on the magnetic field coherence length-scale and the size of the observable emitting region (burst energetics, circumburst density).