Acquisition of PROMPT: Gamma-Ray Bursts as Probes

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AST-0420868 -- Reichart/UNCParamount-based Robotic Optical Monitoring and Polarimetry Telescope (PROMPT) is an instrument acquisition program that will enable the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to probe the physics, environments, and diversity of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and use GRBs to probe the early universe in new and powerful ways. At the same time, PROMPT will be a shared resource between UNC-Chapel Hill and every undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina with an astronomer or with an interest in astronomy, including historically African-American and Native-American institutions. PROMPT will consist of four half-meter diameter telescopes on rapidly slewing mounts that will automatically image GRB afterglows within seconds of satellite notification. Since GRBs will require no more than approximately 50% of PROMPT's time, robotic access to the telescopes will be shared with all interested undergraduate institutions in the state of North Carolina.