Program: GS-2014B-Q-6

Title:Exploring the first stars with rapid GRB follow-up observations (South)
PI:Antonino Cucchiara
Co-I(s): Brian Schmidt, Bethany Cobb, Joshua Bloom, Fang Yuan, Adam Morgan, Andrew Levan, Sebastian Lopez, Wen-Fai Fong, Sharon Rapoport, Klaas Wiersema, Nial Tanvir, Derek Fox, Daniel Perley, Ryan Chornock, J. Xavier Prochaska, Andrew Fruchter, Stephen Cenko, Edo Berger, Kathy Roth

Abstract

GRBs provide a unique window on exotic, highly relativistic physics. Our discovery of cosmic explosions like GRB090423 at z=8.2, breaking the record for the most distant known object, also demonstrates the power of using GRBs as lighthouses visible into the epoch of re-ionization, pinpointing the earliest stars and galaxies. Therefore, we intend (i) to observe GRBs at very high-z, in order to explore the IGM during reionization and place fundamental constraints on the early epochs of star-formation, (ii) to study in detail the class of short-duration bursts, especially their electromagnetic signatures in relation to gravitational-wave sources, (iii) to observe exceptionally energetic bursts, such as detected by the Fermi-LAT satellite in order to test theories of quantum gravity, (iv) continue our quest for low-z GRBs associated with supernovae, which, in conjunction with a larger sample of GRB afterglow spectra will provide unique insights into the stellar progenitors and explosion sites of these intriguing phenomena. Gemini, with its flexible schedule and instrumentation suite, represents a cornerstone facility of global GRB research and we will continue to use it in combination with a large network of other facilities. We also submitted a long-term proposal which will supersede this single-semester request in case of approval.

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