Clues to gamma-ray burst formation through observations of afterglows, GRB-supernovae and dark burst host galaxies

Bethany Cobb博士被授予美国国家科学基金会天文学和天体物理学博士后奖学金，在加州大学伯克利分校开展研究和教育项目。科布博士将通过研究伽马射线暴的余辉、与伽马射线暴相关的超新星（SNe）和暗爆发的宿主星系，在理解伽马射线暴（GRB）的起源方面取得进展。grb有潜力成为天文学研究许多领域的有力工具，因为它们探测到宇宙中其他地方看不到的区域。然而，grb形成的确切方式和原因仍不清楚。这项研究将利用智利的1.3米小孔径和中等孔径研究望远镜系统（SMARTS）和亚利桑那州的1.3米机器人Peters自动红外成像望远镜（PAIRITEL）对GRB余辉和与GRB相关的SNe进行快速和长期的跟踪，以及WIYN和Keck天文台对GRB主星系进行深度成像。Cobb还将通过加州大学伯克利分校Osher终身学习研究所和伯克利成人学校开发和教授一系列为期6周的课程，以促进终身学习，并将天文学的兴奋带给50岁以上的成年人。这些中心专注于帮助老年人发展技能和兴趣，以丰富和提高他们的生活质量。科布博士将把为这些课程制作的材料公布于众，并广泛记录向成熟学生教授天文学的挑战和回报。

Dr. Bethany Cobb is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a program of research and education at the University of California-Berkeley. Dr. Cobb will make progress toward understanding gamma-ray burst (GRB) progenitors by examining GRB afterglows, GRB-related supernovae (SNe) and the host galaxies of dark bursts. GRBs have the potential to serve as powerful tools in many areas of astronomical research because they probe regions of the universe that are otherwise hidden from view. However, exactly how and why GRBs form is still not understood. This investigation will make use of the 1.3-m Small and Moderate Aperture Research Telescope System (SMARTS) in Chile and the 1.3-m robotic Peters Automated Infrared Imaging Telescope (PAIRITEL) in Arizona for rapid and long-term follow-up of GRB afterglow and GRB-related SNe, as well as the WIYN and Keck observatories for deep imaging of GRB host galaxies.Dr. Cobb will also develop and teach a series of 6-week courses through the UC Berkeley Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the Berkeley Adult School to promote life-long learning and to bring the excitement of astronomy to adults 50+. These centers focus on helping seniors develop skills and interests that will enrich and enhance their quality of life. Dr. Cobb will make the materials produced for these classes publicly available and extensively document the challenges and rewards of teaching astronomy to mature students.