Jon's research group, including several students, studies gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) which are the most luminous events in the universe. They last from a few milliseconds to several minutes, and are often followed by "afterglow" emissions at longer wavelengths, including the visible. Gamma-ray bursts are detected by orbiting satellites.

GRBs seem to be due to emissions from the collapse of rapidly rotating high-mass stars into a black hole, but some may be the result of a collision of two neutron stars in orbit around one another. So far, all GRBs come from outside our own galaxy, which is a good thing.

Dr. Hakkila investigates gamma-ray burst data.

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Click on the image above to download the PowerPoint presentation "Subgroups of GRBs" PowerPoint presentation at the 2003 JENAM Gamma-Ray Burst Symposium in Budapest.

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Click on the image above for a full pdf file of the research poster

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Click on the image above for a full pdf file of the research poster

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updated: 15 June 07 - jlw