Early-Time Observations of GRBs afterglow with 2-m Robotic Telescopes
- Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House, Egerton Wharf, Birkenhead, CH41 1LD (United Kingdom)
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, 1000 Ljubiana (Slovenia)
In the era of rapid and accurate localisation of Gamma Ray Bursts by the Swift satellite, high quality early time multi-wavelength light curves, obtained by space and ground-based robotic telescopes, have shown that the standard 'smooth temporal power law decays' typical of late-time afterglow emission can be substantially modified at early times by e.g. energy injection from long-lived central engines, and/or interactions between the ejecta and clumps in the surrounding circumburst medium. Well-sampled optical light curves (covering a wide range in time, brightness and redshift) together with early-time polarimetry provide a powerful probe of the physics of GRBs, their ejecta and their environments. Here we summarise the GRB followup programme being conducted on a network of the world's three largest robotic telescopes that aims to obtain early-time multicolour photometric and polarimetric measurements crucial for the understanding of GRB physics.
- OSTI ID:
- 21067364
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 924, Issue 1; Conference: International conference on multicolor landscape of compact objects and their explosive origins, Cefalu, Sicily (Italy), 11-24 Jun 2006; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2774840; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
On the afterglow and host galaxy of GRB 021004: A comprehensivestudy with the Hubble Space Telescope1
THE AFTERGLOWS OF SWIFT-ERA GAMMA-RAY BURSTS. I. COMPARING PRE-SWIFT AND SWIFT-ERA LONG/SOFT (TYPE II) GRB OPTICAL AFTERGLOWS