Very High Energy Observations of Gamma-Ray Burst Locations with the Whipple Telescope
Fegan, S. J.; Fortin, P.; Horan, D.; Cui, W.; Daniel, M. K.; Finley, J. P.; Grube, J.; Hanna, D.; Holder, J.; Humensky, T. B.; Kertzman, M.; Lang, M. J.; Maier, G.; Moriarty, P.; Ong, R. A.; Quinn, J.; Ragan, K.; Reynolds, P. T.; Sembroski, G. H.; Vassiliev, V. V.; Wakely, S. P.; Williams, D. A.; White, R. J.; Hall, J.; Falcone, A. D.; Perkins, J. S.; Krawczynski, H.; Buckley, J. H.; de la Calle Perez, I.; Kildea, J.; Gillanders, G. H.; Krennrich, F.; Schroedter, M.; Weekes, T. C.; Nagai, T.; Atkins, R. W.; Badran, H. M.; Blaylock, G.; Bradbury, S. M.; Byrum, K. L.; Celik, O.; Chow, Y. C. K.; Cogan, P.; Dowdall, C.; Fegan, D. J.; Fortson, L. F.; Gutierrez, K. J.; Hughes, S. B.; Kenny, G. E.; Kieda, D. B.; LeBohec, S.; Petry, D.; Quinn, M.; Rose, H. J.; Steele, D.; Swordy, S. P.; Toner, J. A.; Valcarcel, L.; Wagner, R. G.
United States, Egypt, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada
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 10 m gamma-ray telescope, and GRBs will continue to be high-priority targets as the next-generation observatory, VERITAS, comes online. Upper limits on the VHE emission at late times (>~4 hr) from seven GRBs observed with the Whipple Telescope are reported here.