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Published June 29, 2000 | Version Published
Book Section - Chapter Open

Afterglows of gamma-ray bursts

Creators

  • 1. ROR icon California Institute of Technology
  • 2. ROR icon W.M. Keck Observatory
  • 3. ROR icon National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Contributors

Abstract

Gamma-ray burst astronomy has undergone a revolution in the last three years, spurred by the discover of fading long- wavelength counterparts. We now know that at least the long duration GRBs lie at cosmological distances with estimated electromagnetic energy release of 10^(51)-10^(53) erg, making these the brightest explosions in the Universe. In this article we review the current observational state of the long-lived 'afterglow' emission that accompanies GRBs at X-ray, optical, and radio afterglow wavelengths. We then discuss the insights these observations have given to the progenitor population, the energetics of the GRB events, and the physics of the afterglow emission. We focus particular attention on the evidence linking GRBs to the explosion of massive stars. Throughout, we identify remaining puzzles and uncertainties, and emphasize promising observations tools for addressing them. The imminent launch of HETE-2, the increasingly sophisticated and coordinated ground-based and space-based observations, and the increasing availability of 10-m class optical telescopes have primed this field for fantastic growth.

Additional Information

© 2000 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Our research is supported by NASA and NSF. JSB thanks the Fannie & John Hertz Foundation for their generous support, AD holds a Millikan Postdoctoral Fellowship in Experimental Physics, TJG holds a Fairchild Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Observational Astronomy and RS holds Fairchild Foundation Senior Fellowship in Theoretical Astrophysics. The VLA is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. The W. M. Keck Observatory is operated by the California Association for Research in Astronomy, a scientific partnership among California Institute of Technology, the University of California and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

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Additional details

Identifiers

Eprint ID
87477
Resolver ID
CaltechAUTHORS:20180629-132701664

Funding

Fannie and John Hertz Foundation
Robert A. Millikan Fellowship
Sherman Fairchild Foundation
NASA
NSF
W. M. Keck Foundation

Dates

Created
2018-06-29
Created from EPrint's datestamp field
Updated
2021-11-15
Created from EPrint's last_modified field

Caltech Custom Metadata

Caltech groups
Space Radiation Laboratory, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences (GPS)
Series Name
Proceedings of SPIE
Series Volume or Issue Number
4005