Résumé / Abstract Seminaire_IAP
« Gamma ray burst discoveries by the SWIFT mission »

Neil Gehrels

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most fascinating occurrences in the cosmos. They are thought to be the birth cries of black holes throughout the Universe. The NASA SWIFT mission, in orbit since November 2004, is an innovative multiwavelength observatory designed to determine the origin of bursts and use them to probe the early Universe. Recent results from the mission will be presented. The long-standing mystery of short GRBs is beginning to be solved in a most interesting direction. High redshift bursts have been detected to redshift z=6.3 leading to a better understanding of star formation rates at early times. GRBs have been found with giant X-ray flares occurring in their afterglow. The very nearby GRB 060218 triggered observations within minutes of the full light curve of an odd supernova Type Ic.
vendredi 11 mai 2007 - 11:00
Amphithéâtre Henri Mineur, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris
Page web du séminaire / Seminar's webpage