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

Bathany Cobb博士被授予NSF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一项研究和教育计划。柯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)前体方面取得进展。伽玛暴有可能成为许多天文研究领域的强大工具，因为它们探测宇宙中原本看不见的区域。然而，伽玛暴究竟是如何形成的以及为什么形成，目前还不清楚。这项研究将利用智利的1.3米中小口径研究望远镜系统(SMARTS)和亚利桑那州的1.3米机器人彼得斯自动红外成像望远镜(PAIRITEL)来快速和长期地跟踪伽玛暴余辉和与伽玛暴相关的近地天体，以及WIYN和Keck天文台对伽玛暴宿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+的成年人。这些中心专注于帮助老年人发展技能和兴趣，这将丰富和提高他们的生活质量。柯布博士将把这些课程的教材公之于众，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.