Very High Energy Observations of Gamma-Ray Burst Locations with the Whipple Telescope

Abstract

Gamma-ray burst (GRB) observations at very high energies (VHE, E > 100 GeV) can impose tight constraints on some GRB emission models. Many GRB afterglow models predict a VHE component similar to that seen in blazars and plerions, in which the GRB spectral energy distribution has a double-peaked shape extending into the VHE regime. VHE emission coincident with delayed X-ray flare emission has also been predicted. GRB follow-up observations have had high priority in the observing program at the Whipple 10m Gamma-ray Telescope and GRBs will continue to be high priority targets as the next generation observatory, VERITAS, comes on-line. Upper limits on the VHE emission, at late times (>~4 hours), from seven GRBs observed with the Whipple Telescope are reported here.

Accepted for publication in the January 20, 2007 volume of the Astrophysical Journal, 655, 396

References in corpus (2)

• Gamma-Ray Bursts: Progress, Problems & Prospects
• Evidence for VHE Gamma-ray Emission from the Distant BL Lac PG 1553+113

Cited by in corpus (10)

• Teraelectronvolt emission from the $\gamma$-ray burst GRB 190114C
• High Energy Afterglow from Gamma-ray Bursts
• MAGIC upper limits on the very high energy emission from GRBs
• Prompt Emission of High Energy Photons from Gamma Ray Bursts
• High energy gamma-ray emission from Gamma-Ray Bursts -- before GLAST
• Prompt GeV-TeV Emission of Gamma-Ray Bursts Due to High-Energy Protons, Muons and Electron-Positron Pairs
• H.E.S.S. observations of gamma-ray bursts in 2003-2007
• Detectability of Pair Echos from Gamma-Ray Bursts and Intergalactic Magnetic Fields
• Milagro Constraints on Very High Energy Emission from Short Duration Gamma-Ray Bursts
• Prospects for the detection of the prompt very-high-energy emission from $\gamma$-ray bursts with the High Altitude Detection of Astronomical Radiation experiment