Location
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Ball Room
Start Date
6-8-2008 9:00 AM
End Date
6-8-2008 12:00 PM
Description
The determination of which properties of gamma-ray bursts and the surrounding interstellar medium contribute to the observed bimodal distribution of optical afterglow luminosities will provide insight into the physical processes that give rise to the two families of optical afterglows. Making this determination will require a solid understanding of the standard afterglow model, as well as the use of a language such as C to create programs consisting of codes that perform calculations involving afterglow parameters and Monte Carlo simulations.
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs): the brightest sources of electromagnetic radiation since the Big Bang; also the most violent explosions in the universe. Most GRBs (Type II) are linked to supernovae; other GRBs (Type I) may be related to mergers between compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes. GRB afterglow: occurs when the material from the explosion collides with circumburst material (such as the interstellar medium, also known as ISM); can be observed in all bands up to X-ray and lasts much longer than the initial explosion. Light curve: plot of flux vs. time in a particular frequency are the most common way to study GRB afterglows.
Keywords
Afterglow; Gamma-ray bursts; Observed luminosities
Disciplines
Astrophysics and Astronomy
Language
English
An Investigation of the origin the bimodal distribution of optical afterglow luminosities of gamma-ray bursts
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Ball Room
The determination of which properties of gamma-ray bursts and the surrounding interstellar medium contribute to the observed bimodal distribution of optical afterglow luminosities will provide insight into the physical processes that give rise to the two families of optical afterglows. Making this determination will require a solid understanding of the standard afterglow model, as well as the use of a language such as C to create programs consisting of codes that perform calculations involving afterglow parameters and Monte Carlo simulations.
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs): the brightest sources of electromagnetic radiation since the Big Bang; also the most violent explosions in the universe. Most GRBs (Type II) are linked to supernovae; other GRBs (Type I) may be related to mergers between compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes. GRB afterglow: occurs when the material from the explosion collides with circumburst material (such as the interstellar medium, also known as ISM); can be observed in all bands up to X-ray and lasts much longer than the initial explosion. Light curve: plot of flux vs. time in a particular frequency are the most common way to study GRB afterglows.
Comments
Abstract & poster