Inhomogeneous Jets from Neutron Star Mergers : One Jet to Rule them all

The broad, ∼4 order of magnitude range in energy, inferred via afterglow observations, for the short Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) population is difficult to reconcile with the narrow energy distribution expected from neutron star merger progenitors. Using the resultant profiles from 3D hydrodynamic simulations of relativistic jets interacting with neutron star merger wind ejecta, we show how the inhomogeneity of energy and velocity can alter the observed afterglow lightcurve. From a single jet we find that the peak afterglow flux depends sensitively on the observer's line-of-sight: at an inclination within the GRB emitting region we find peak flux variability on the order <0.5 dex through rotational orientation, and <1.3 dex for polar inclination. The inferred jet kinetic energy for a fixed parameter afterglow covers ∼1/3 of the observed short GRB population. We find a physically motivated, analytic jet structure function via our simulations and include an approximation for the varying collimation due to the merger ejecta mass. We show that by considering the observed range of merger ejecta masses, a short GRB jet population with a single intrinsic energy is capable of explaining the observed broad diversity in short GRB kinetic energies.Sumbitted to MNRAS