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Description
We present the second multi-frequency radio detection of a reverse shock in a {gamma}-ray burst. By combining our extensive radio observations of the Fermi-Large Area Telescope {gamma}-ray burst 160509A at z=1.17 up to 20 days after the burst with Swift X-ray observations and ground-based optical and near-infrared data, we show that the afterglow emission comprises distinct reverse shock and forward shock contributions: the reverse shock emission dominates in the radio band at <~10 days, while the forward shock emission dominates in the X-ray, optical, and near-infrared bands. Through multi-wavelength modeling, we determine a circumburst density of n_0_~10^-3^cm^-3^, supporting our previous suggestion that a low-density circumburst environment is conducive to the production of long-lasting reverse shock radiation in the radio band. We infer the presence of a large excess X-ray absorption column, N_H_~1.5x10^22^cm^-2^, and a high rest-frame optical extinction, A_V_~3.4mag. We identify a jet break in the X-ray light curve at t_jet_~6days, and thus derive a jet opening angle of {theta}_jet_~4{deg}, yielding a beaming-corrected kinetic energy and radiated {gamma}-ray energy of E_K_~4x10^50^erg and E_{gamma}_~1.3x10^51^erg (1-10^4^keV, rest frame), respectively. Consistency arguments connecting the forward shocks and reverse shocks suggest a deceleration time of t_dec_~460s~T_90_, a Lorentz factor of {Gamma}(t_dec_)~330, and a reverse-shock-to-forward-shock fractional magnetic energy density ratio of R_B_={epsilon}_B,RS_/{epsilon}_B,FS_~8. Our study highlights the power of rapid-response radio observations in the study of the properties and dynamics of {gamma}-ray burst ejecta.
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