College of Charleston

School of Sciences & Mathematics

Department of Physics & Astronomy

Colloquium Thursday, October 01, 2009, 12:15 p.m., SCIC 126

 

Multi-messenger studies of gamma-ray bursts

Dr. Ignacio Taboada

Center for Relativistic Astrophysics,

School of Physics

Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract: Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the most powerful objects in the Universe, are believed to be associated with core-collapse supernovae that lead directly to the creation of a black hole and with mergers of binary compact objects. They are also one of the prime candidates for the source of the highest energy cosmic rays. Thus, GRBs are excellent phenomena to be studied with neutrinos and high energy gamma-rays. Searches for neutrinos have so far been negative while photons of up to 30 GeV have been observed by Fermi. In this talk I will review the prospects for detection of high energy emission by the IceCube neutrino  telescope and the HAWC gamma-ray detector. I'll also provide a brief summary of the observations and capabilities of related detectors.

All interested persons are cordially invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided.