Observations of GRBs at high redshift

Tanvir, N. R.; Jakobsson, P.

doi:10.1098/rsta.2006.1992

Cited by 35 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(43 reference statements)

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“…Theory and observations suggest that ∼10% of Swift-detected gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) will originate at redshifts z 5 and ∼3% at redshifts z 6 (Bromm & Loeb 2006;Daigne et al 2006;Tanvir & Jakobsson 2007). Furthermore, the observed flux is not expected to fade significantly with increasing redshift as time dilation effects lead to earlier observations of the afterglow in the GRB restframe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The host of GRB 060206: kinematics of a distant galaxy

Thöne¹,

Wiersema

Ledoux

et al. 2008

A&A

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Context. GRB afterglow spectra are sensitive probes of interstellar matter along the line-of-sight in their host galaxies, as well as in intervening galaxies. The rapid fading of GRBs makes it very difficult to obtain spectra of sufficient resolution and S/N to allow for these kinds of studies. Aims. We investigate the state and properties of the interstellar medium in the host of GRB 060206 at z = 4.048 with a detailed study of groundstate and finestructure absorption lines in an early afterglow spectrum. This allows us to derive conclusions on the nature and origin of the absorbing structures and their connection to the host galaxy and/or the GRB. Methods. We used early (starting 1.6 h after the burst) WHT/ISIS optical spectroscopy of the afterglow of the gamma-ray burst GRB 060206 detecting a range of metal absorption lines and their finestructure transitions. Additional information is provided by the afterglow lightcurve. The resolution and wavelength range of the spectra and the bright afterglow have facilitated a detailed study and fitting of the absorption line systems in order to derive column densities. We also used deep imaging to detect the host galaxy and probe the nature of an intervening system at z = 1.48 seen in absorption in the afterglow spectra. Results. We detect four discrete velocity systems in the resonant metal absorption lines, best explained by shells within and/or around the host created by starburst winds. The finestructure lines have no less than three components with strengths decreasing from the redmost components. We therefore suggest that the finestructure lines are best explained as being produced by UV pumping from which follows that the redmost component is the one closest to the burst where N v was detected as well. The host is detected in deep HST imaging with F814W AB = 27.48 ± 0.19 mag and a 3σ upper limit of H = 20.6 mag (Vega) is achieved. A candidate counterpart for the intervening absorption system is detected as well, which is quite exceptional for an absorber in the sightline towards a GRB afterglow. The intervening system shows no temporal evolution as claimed by Hao et al. (2007, ApJ, 659, 99), which we prove from our WHT spectra taken before and Subaru spectra taken during those observations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The host of GRB 060206: kinematics of a distant galaxy

Thöne¹,

Wiersema

Ledoux

et al. 2008

A&A

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“…This gives an upper limit of 58%. Using a subset of Swift bursts that were well positioned for the follow-up studies, and again assuming that all of the bursts for which no optical afterglow was detected lie at VHR, Tanvir & Jakobsson (2007) derive a more informative upper limit of 22%.…”

Section: Recent Scientific Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gamma-ray bursts and cosmology

Lamb

2007

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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I review the current status of the use of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) as probes of the early Universe and cosmology. I describe the promise of long GRBs as probes of the high redshift ( z >4) and very high redshift ( z >5) Universe, and several key scientific results that have come from observations made possible by accurate, rapid localizations of these bursts by Swift. I then estimate the fraction of long GRBs that lie at very high redshifts and discuss ways in which it may be possible to rapidly identify—and therefore study—a larger number of these bursts. Finally, I discuss the ways in which both long and short GRBs can be made ‘standard candles’ and used to constrain the properties of dark energy.

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“…Red shifts have now been measured for over 50 long bursts, including the first GRB at very high red shift (zO6; Cusumano et al 2006;Haislip et al 2006;Kawai et al 2006). These bursts are providing new ways to probe the high-red-shift universe (as reviewed by Ghirlanda 2007;Lamb 2007) and Tanvir & Jakobsson (2007) discuss conditions under which GRBs may be used as a tracer of the star formation rate in high-redshift galaxies.…”

Section: Observational Contributions From Swiftmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introduction: recent developments in the study of gamma-ray bursts

Wells

Wijers

Rees

2007

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are immensely powerful explosions, originating at cosmological distances, whose outbursts persist for durations ranging from milliseconds to tens of seconds or more. In these brief moments, the explosions radiate more energy than the Sun will release in its entire 10 Gyr lifetime. Current theories attribute these phenomena to the final collapse of a massive star, or the coalescence of a binary system induced by gravity wave emission.New results from Swift and related programmes offer fresh understanding of the physics of GRBs, and of the local environments and host galaxies of burst progenitors. Bursts found at very high red shifts are new tools for exploring the intergalactic medium, the first stars and the earliest stages of galaxy formation.This Royal Society Discussion Meeting has brought together leading figures in the field, together with young researchers and students, to discuss and review the latest results from NASA's Swift Gamma-ray Burst Observatory and elsewhere, and to examine their impact on current understanding of the observed phenomena.

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Observations of GRBs at high redshift

Cited by 35 publications

References 35 publications

The host of GRB 060206: kinematics of a distant galaxy

The host of GRB 060206: kinematics of a distant galaxy

Gamma-ray bursts and cosmology

Introduction: recent developments in the study of gamma-ray bursts

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