Exploring the universe with gamma-ray bursts

• Applicant: Dr. Sandra Savaglio
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2009 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 124457882

• Final Report Year: 2012

Final Report Abstract

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most powerful explosions in the universe, induced by massive stars (supernovae) or merging of compact objects (neutron stars and black holes). We have used the large archive of broad-band spectroscopic and photometric afterglow data to study the conditions of the interstellar medium (ISM) within high−z, star-forming galaxies. The host galaxy interstellar metals, gas and dust along the GRB sight-line leaves an imprint on the near-infrared to X-ray afterglow, from which we derived the distribution and physical state of the neutral gas and dust, to understand the formation and evolution of distant, star-forming galaxies.

Publications

• (2011). The missing gas problem in GRB host galaxies: evidence for a highly ionised component. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 525, A113
  Schady, P., Savaglio, S., Krühler, T., Greiner, J. & Rau, A.