Swift-UVOT and Gemini-NIRI studies of Dark Bursts
Abstract
A fraction of well localized, long GRBs, lack a detectable optical afterglow (dark bursts). Currently there are three explanations put forth for the cause of Dark Bursts: slow localization (i.e., observations are performed too late to capture an optical afterglow), high redshifts, and obscuration by dust. The Swift satellite will have quick response capabilities and should eliminate the problem of slow localization. We modified the standard fireball shock model to examine the effects of high redshift, dust obscuration, and re-ionization on the observed flux. As a result of the theoretical modeling, we present light curves for the UV and optical bands for the Swift UV/Optical Telescope (UVOT), as well as the J, H, & K bands of the Gemini's Near InfraRed Imager (NIRI) and spectrograph.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AAS...20511503I