Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jan 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008aipc..968....3g&link_type=abstract
ASTROPHYSICS OF COMPACT OBJECTS: International Conference on Astrophysics of Compact Objects. AIP Conference Proceedings, Volum
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
1
Astronomical Observations, Gamma-Ray Sources, Gamma-Ray Bursts, Origin, Formation, Evolution, Age, And Star Formation, Supernovae, Distances, Redshifts, Radial Velocities, Spatial Distribution Of Galaxies, X- And Gamma-Ray Telescopes And Instrumentation
Scientific paper
Since its launch on 20 November 2004, the Swift mission is detecting ~100 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) each year, and immediately (within ~90 s) starting X-ray and UV/optical observations of the afterglow. It has already collected an impressive database including prompt emission to higher sensitivities than BATSE, uniform monitoring of afterglows, and rapid follow-up by other observatories notified through the GCN. The detection of X-ray afterglows have been found to have complex temporal shapes including tails emission from the prompt phase and bright flares. X-ray afterglows from short bursts has led to accurate localizations. It is found that they can occur in non-star forming galaxies or regions, whereas long GRBs are strongly concentrated within star forming regions. This is consistent with the NS merger model. Swift has greatly increased the redshift range of GRB detection. The highest redshift GRBs, at z~5-6, are approaching the era of reionization. Ground-based deep optical spectroscopy of high redshift bursts is giving metallicity measurements and other information on the source environment to much greater distance than other techniques. The localization of GRB 060218 to a nearby galaxy, and association with SN 2006aj, added a valuable member to the class of GRBs with detected supernova. The prospects for future progress are excellent give the >10 year orbital lifetime of the Swift satellite.
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