NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0215
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0215 |
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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 Hertfordshire
CoI: Klaas Wiersema, University of Leicester
CoI: Andrew Fruchter, Space Telescope Science Institute
CoI: Rhaana Starling, University of Leicester
CoI: Daniel Reichart, University of North Carolina
CoI: John Graham, Space Telescope Science Institute
CoI: David Bersier, Liverpool John Moores University
CoI: Pall Jakobsson, University of Iceland
CoI: Jochen Greiner, Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
CoI: James Rhoads, Arizona State University
CoI: Jens Hjorth, NBI: DARK, Copenhagen
Title: Rapid observations of gamma-ray bursts with Gemini-S
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. The primary goals are (i) to detect afterglows and
hosts, and measure redshifts for the class of short-duration bursts, whose
nature, despite recent breakthroughs, remains enigmatic; (ii) to locate and
study GRBs at very high redshifts (z>5) where they provide a window on early
galaxy evolution and the IGM; (iii) to construct a more complete redshift
sample of GRBs and constrain the redshift evolution of the mass-metallicity
relation; (iv) in conjunction with X-ray (Swift/Chandra/XMM) and high-energy
gamma ray (Fermi) 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-0215 |
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