NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0213
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0213 |
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PI: Nial Tanvir, University of Leicester, nrt3@star.le.ac.uk
Address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
CoI: Andrew Levan, University of Warwick
CoI: Andrew Fruchter, Space Telescope Science Institute
CoI: Klaas Wiersema, University of Leicester
CoI: Rhaana Starling, University of Leicester
CoI: John Graham, Space Telescope Science Institute
CoI: Daniel Reichart, University of North Carolina
CoI: David Bersier, Liverpool John Moores University
CoI: Pall Jakobsson, University of Iceland
CoI: Paul O'Brien, University of Leicester
CoI: James Rhoads, Arizona State University
CoI: Jens Hjorth, NBI: DARK, Copenhagen
Title: Investigating gamma-ray bursts and their use as cosmological probes
Abstract:
Rapid observations of gamma-ray bursts are critical to probing their exotic
physics and using GRBs themselves as probes of the universe. Our
collaboration has recently found the most distant known object, GRB 090423 at
z=8.2, and continues to use Gemini (supported by other facilities) to study
distant and extreme bursts, and explore the diversity of their hosts and
progenitors. Our approach to both study individual key events, and build up
statistical samples. Primary goals remain (i) to observe GRBs at very high
redshifts, where they provide luminous backlights with which to explore the
early ISM/IGM, and also the means to identify and characterise their faint
hosts; (ii) to detect afterglows and measure redshifts for the class of
short-duration bursts, whose nature, despite recent breakthroughs, remains
enigmatic; (iii) to construct a more complete redshift sample of GRBs and
constrain the evolution of the mass-metallicity relation; (iv) in conjunction
with X-ray and gamma-ray data, to test the standard jetted, relativistic
fireball models and to explore the connection between long-duration gamma-ray
bursts and the core-collapse events that accompany them.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0213 |
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