Very High Energy Observations of Gamma-Ray Burst Locations with the Whipple Telescope
/ Authors
D. Horan, R. Atkins, H. Badran, G. Blaylock, S. Bradbury, J. Buckley, K. Byrum, O. Celik, Y. Chow, P. Cogan
and 49 more authors
W. Cui, M. Daniel, I. D. Pérez, C. Dowdall, A. Falcone, D. Fegan, S. Fegan, J. Finley, P. Fortin, L. Fortson, G. Gillanders, J. Grube, K. Gutierrez, J. Hall, D. Hanna, J. Holder, S. Hughes, T. Humensky, G. Kenny, M. Kertzman, D. Kieda, J. Kildea, H. Krawczynski, F. Krennrich, M. Lang, S. LeBohec, G. Maier, P. Moriarty, T. Nagai, R. Ong, J. Perkins, D. Petry, J. Quinn, M. Quinn, K. Ragan, P. Reynolds, H. Rose, M. Schroedter, G. Sembroski, D. Steele, S. Swordy, J. Toner, L. Valcárcel, V. Vassiliev, R. Wagner, S. Wakely, T. Weekes, R. White, D. Williams
/ 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.
Journal: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/509567