Very High Energy Observations of Gamma-Ray Burst Locations with the Whipple Telescope
Abstract
Gamma-ray burst (GRB) observations at very high energies (VHE; E>100 GeV) can impose tight constraints on some GRB emission models. Many GRB afterglow models predict a VHE component similar to that seen in blazars and plerions, in which the GRB spectral energy distribution has a double-peaked shape extending into the VHE regime. VHE emission coincident with delayed X-ray flare emission has also been predicted. GRB follow-up observations have had high priority in the observing program at the Whipple 10 m gamma-ray telescope, and GRBs will continue to be high-priority targets as the next-generation observatory, VERITAS, comes online. Upper limits on the VHE emission at late times (>~4 hr) from seven GRBs observed with the Whipple Telescope are reported here.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1086/509567
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0701281
- Bibcode:
- 2007ApJ...655..396H
- Keywords:
-
- Gamma Rays: Bursts;
- Gamma Rays: Observations;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in the January 20, 2007 volume of the Astrophysical Journal, 655, 396