Program: GS-2021A-Q-134

Title:Rapid Imaging and Spectroscopic Follow-up of Fast Radio Bursts
PI:Nicolas Tejos
Co-I(s): J. Xavier Prochaska, Ryan Shannon, Keith Bannister, Giuliano Pignata, Jeff Cooke, Regina A. Jorgenson

Abstract

We propose to continue our rapid-response target of opportunity (ToO) program to study the nature and origin of fast radio bursts (FRBs). FRBs are bright millisecond-duration radio pulses originated at extragalactic distances. Their radio emission, however, offers limited insight into their physical nature and, especially, cannot be used to precisely establish the source redshift. We propose to use Gemini-S/GMOS to perform rapid ToO imaging and spectroscopic follow-up observations of real time well-localized (<1") FRB events, in order to characterize their host galaxies and any putative associated optical emission. The new advances in the radio detectors are now delivering sub-arcsec FRB localization (e.g. ASKAP) and, together with the DWF program, this proposal would allow prompt and effective follow-up of FRBs. Our science goals range from establishing the energetics and progenitors of the FRBs from galaxy hosts demographics to leveraging these phenomena for cosmological constraints on the distribution of baryons within the intergalactic medium and circumgalactic medium.

Publications using this program's data