{
  "abstract": "Optical and infrared GRB absorption spectroscopy provides valuable insight into host-galaxy properties across cosmic time. However, the star-forming region embedding the progenitor, on scales $\\lesssim 100~\\mathrm{pc}$ is heavily ionized by the GRB emission, making X-ray spectroscopy the sole probe of its physical and chemical conditions. We characterize the GRB-embedding medium as a function of progenitor type and cosmic epoch via high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. We extend our study to high-redshift GRBs to evaluate how effectively X-ray absorption signatures can distinguish between pristine, Pop~III-, and Pop~II-enriched environments. Using the time-dependent photoionization code \\texttt{TEPID}, we self-consistently calculate the ionization structure of the absorber, the energies and the strengths of the resulting absorption lines. We analyze a flux-selected sample of GRBs showing strong evidence for time-dependent photoionization, and search for predicted narrow features in the RGS spectra. We also assess the performance of \\textit{XRISM}/Resolve and \\textit{NewAthena}/X-IFU in detecting these features. In the single archival case with sufficient RGS signal-to-noise ratio (GRB~090618 at $z=0.54$), we find $\\approx 3σ$ combined evidence for narrow, highly ionized Fe~L absorption lines. For bright nearby GRBs, \\textit{XRISM}/Resolve can detect Fe~K absorption lines even in its current gate-valve-closed configuration ($\\sim 3$ expected events/yr). \\textit{NewAthena}/X-IFU will enable systematic population studies of GRB environments, delivering redshifts with precision comparable to optical/IR spectroscopy, unaffected by dust obscuration and Ly-$α$ forest absorption. Crucially, it will precisely diagnose the density, size, metallicity, and abundance patterns, ultimately revealing whether high-$z$ GRBs originate in pristine, Pop~III-, or Pop~II-enriched media.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.32786",
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Luigi Piro"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aishwarya Linesh Thakur"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alfredo Luminari"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fabrizio Nicastro"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yair Krongold"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2peqyy38df377.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.32786",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "2peqyy38df377",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.32786",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.HE"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223686412",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.32786",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2peqyy38df377.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
      "native_id": "2610.32786",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.32786"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.HE",
      "subfield": "high-energy-astrophysics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Probing the star-forming environment of GRB across cosmic ages with high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy: From \\textit{XMM-Newton}/RGS and \\textit{XRISM}/Resolve to \\textit{NewAthena}/X-IFU",
  "title_text": "Probing the star-forming environment of GRB across cosmic ages with high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy: From \\textit{XMM-Newton}/RGS and \\textit{XRISM}/Resolve to \\textit{NewAthena}/X-IFU",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2peqyy38df377",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}