Optical Observations of GRBs: Early and Often

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AST-0407061McKayThis research is the scientific analysis and dissemination of gamma-ray burst (GRB) follow-up observations obtained by the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE), which is a network of four fully automatic rapid response telescopes, placed on four different continents to provide global coverage. NASA's SWIFT satellite will provide accurate, prompt localizations for hundreds of GRBs over its nominal two-year mission, and ROTSE will be able to respond in less than 10 seconds to nearly half of these events, providing early optical observations for a hundred or more GRBs, versus the current handful. The early time period is crucial for understanding the origin of GRBs, and ROTSE should reveal important clues to progenitor environments, gamma-ray emission mechanisms, and event geometry.The project involves undergraduate researchers extensively, and has a very high level of public interest. ROTSE is also a highly visible, extremely international project, involving the US, Australia, Germany, Namibia, and Turkey.