Illuminating the Early Universe with Gamma Ray Bursts
PI:
Paul Price
Co-I(s):
Bruce Peterson, Len Cowie, Armin Rest, Chris Smith, Brian Schmidt, Joshua Rich, Kathy Roth
Abstract
We propose Ultra Quick Response observations of up to six GRB afterglows in order to use these as tracers to measure the star formation rate out to z~7 and as lighthouses to study the evolution of metals and the environments of star formation over these redshifts. Following detection by the Swift satellite (to be launched October 2004), candidate high-redshift afterglows will be identified from the absence of a V-band detection by Swift, which immediately means that the GRB is at z>>4. In these cases, we will trigger observations with GMOS on Gemini North using a large slit covering the entire error circle, which will allow us to obtain a spectrum of the high-redshift GRB afterglow with a minimum of fuss.
Publications using this program's data
[data][ADS] The afterglow of GRB 050709 and the nature of the short-hard γ-ray bursts
[data][ADS] The afterglow and elliptical host galaxy of the short γ-ray burst GRB 050724
[data][ADS] A luminosity distribution for kilonovae based on short gamma-ray burst afterglows