Andreja Gomboc

Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko

torek, 19. 5. 2009, ob 15h v F6

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are violent explosions releasing of energy in a very short time (a fraction of a second to 1 hour). These brief flashes of gamma rays are followed at longer wavelengths by rapidly fading “afterglows”. In the last 4 years many new insights into GRBs physics have been brought by the Swift satellite. Rapid and accurate localization of GRBs by the Swift enables rapid response ground-based telescopes to routinely commence with observations of optical afterglows within minutes after the burst. The combination of gamma-ray, X-ray, optical and ultraviolet data from Swift instruments with deep, early-time optical imaging from ground-based telescopes is providing unprecedented multiwavelength datasets. I will present the observational strategy and some results of rapid, automatic, optical follow-up observations of a sample of GRBs using the 2-m robotic Liverpool and Faulkes Telescopes. I will review and discuss possible interpretation of the large variety in early afterglow behavior.