Program: GN-2009A-Q-26
Title: | Rapid observations of gamma-ray bursts |
PI: | Nial Tanvir |
Co-I(s): | Andrew Levan, Daniel Reichart, John Graham, Andrew Fruchter, David Bersier, Pall Jakobsson, Paul O'Brien, Evert Rol, James Rhoads, Jens Hjorth, Klaas Wiersema |
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 been extremely successful in using Gemini, in coordination with a network of other facilities, to advance this field, and we seek to continue this program. Our primary goals are (i) to locate and study GRBs at very high redshifts (z>5), where they will provide luminous backlights with which to explore the early ISM/IGM, and also the means to identify and characterise their faint host galaxies, (ii) to construct a more complete redshift sample of GRBs, (iii) to detect afterglows and measure redshifts for the class of short-duration bursts, whose nature, despite recent breakthroughs, remains enigmatic, (iv) in conjunction with data from the Fermi satellite, to test the standard jetted, relativistic fireball models. These goals address central questions of contemporary astrophysics and cosmology.
Publications using this program's data
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[data]
[ADS] A γ-ray burst at a redshift of z~8.2
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[data]
[ADS] Afterglow Observations of Fermi Large Area Telescope Gamma-ray Bursts and the Emerging Class of Hyper-energetic Events
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[data]
[ADS] A Short Gamma-ray Burst "No-host" Problem? Investigating Large Progenitor Offsets for Short GRBs with Optical Afterglows
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[data]
[ADS] The unusual X-ray emission of the short Swift GRB 090515: evidence for the formation of a magnetar?
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[data]
[ADS] A Photometric Redshift of z ~ 9.4 for GRB 090429B
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[data]
[ADS] Testing Gravitational Lensing as the Source of Enhanced Strong Mg II Absorption toward Gamma-Ray Bursts
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[data]
[ADS] X-ray absorption evolution in gamma-ray bursts: intergalactic medium or evolutionary signature of their host galaxies
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[data]
[ADS] A Population of Massive, Luminous Galaxies Hosting Heavily Dust-obscured Gamma-Ray Bursts: Implications for the Use of GRBs as Tracers of Cosmic Star Formation
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[data]
[ADS] The host galaxies and explosion sites of long-duration gamma ray bursts: Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared imaging
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[data]
[ADS] Dust reddening and extinction curves toward gamma-ray bursts at z > 4
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[data]
[ADS] Constraints on the circumburst environments of short gamma-ray bursts