posted on 2012-10-24, 09:21authored byI. A. Smith, R. P. J. Tilanus, V. E. Barnard, G. H. Moriarty-Schieven, N. Tanvir, D. A. Frail, R. A. M. J. Wijers, P. Vreeswijk, E. Rol, C. Kouveliotou
We discuss our ongoing program of Target of Opportunity (ToO) sub-millimeter observations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) using the Sub-millimetre Common-User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). In this paper, we present the ToO observations of GRBs 021004, 021211, 030115, 030226, and 041006. The observations of GRBs 021004, 021211, 030226, and 041006 all started within ~1 day of the burst, but did not detect any significant sub-millimeter emission from the reverse shock and/or afterglow. These observations put some constraints on the models for the early emission, although the generally poor observing conditions and/or the faintness of these afterglows at other wavelengths limit the inferences that can be drawn from these lack of detections. However, these observations demonstrate that SCUBA can perform rapid observations of GRBs, and provide encouragement for future observations in the Swift era. None of these GRBs had significant sub-millimeter emission from their host galaxies. This adds to the indication that GRBs are not closely linked to the most luminous dusty star-forming galaxies.
History
Citation
Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2005, 439 (3), pp. 987-996
Version
VoR (Version of Record)
Published in
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Publisher
EDP Sciences for European Southern Observatory (ESO)