NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011A-0228
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011A-0228 |
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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: Bethany Cobb, The George Washington University
CoI: Antonino Cucchiara, UC berkeley (Astronomy)
CoI: Andrew Levan, University of Warwick
CoI: Joshua Bloom, UC Berkeley (Astronomy)
CoI: Daniel Perley, UC Berkeley (Astronomy)
CoI: Karl Glazebrook, Swinburne University of Technology
CoI: Chris Matzner, University of Toronto
CoI: Jens Hjorth, NBI: DARK, Copenhagen
CoI: Brad Cenko, UC Berkeley (Astronomy)
CoI: Andrew Fruchter, Space Telescope Science Institute
CoI: John Graham, Space Telescope Science Institute
CoI: Klaas Wiersema, University of Leicester
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 newly merged
collaboration has discovered the most distant known object, GRB090423 at
z=8.2, and continues to use Gemini (supported by other facilities) to observe
distant and extreme bursts, and explore the diversity of their hosts and
progenitors. Our approach is to both study individual key events and build up
statistical samples. Primary goals remain (i) to observe GRBs at very high-z,
where they provide luminous backlights with which to explore the IGM during
reionization and also a means to identify and characterise their faint hosts;
(ii) to detect afterglows and measure redshifts for the class of
short-duration bursts, whose nature remains enigmatic; (iii) to construct a
more complete redshift sample of GRBs and constrain the evolution of the
mass-metallicity relation; (iv) to observe Fermi-LAT bursts, which require
redshift measurements in order to constrain theories of quantum gravity and
place limits on the Lorentz factor of the outflow. Gemini is a cornerstone
facility of global GRB research and we will continue to use it in combination
with a large network of small facilities and collaboration with other groups.
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 > 2011A-0228 |
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