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An optical spectrum of the afterglow of a γ-ray burst at a redshift of z = 6.295

Author

Listed:
  • N. Kawai

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

  • G. Kosugi

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • K. Aoki

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • T. Yamada

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • T. Totani

    (Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku)

  • K. Ohta

    (Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku)

  • M. Iye

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • T. Hattori

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • W. Aoki

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • H. Furusawa

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • K. Hurley

    (University of California at Berkeley, Space Sciences Laboratory)

  • K. S. Kawabata

    (Hiroshima University)

  • N. Kobayashi

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Y. Komiyama

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • Y. Mizumoto

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • K. Nomoto

    (University of Tokyo)

  • J. Noumaru

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • R. Ogasawara

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • R. Sato

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

  • K. Sekiguchi

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • Y. Shirasaki

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • M. Suzuki

    (RIKEN (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research))

  • T. Takata

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • T. Tamagawa

    (RIKEN (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research))

  • H. Terada

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • J. Watanabe

    (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

  • Y. Yatsu

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

  • A. Yoshida

    (Aoyama Gakuin University)

Abstract

Long ago and far away The γ-ray burst GRB 050904, detected by the Swift satellite on 4 September last year, is one of the most distant objects ever observed. Its redshift of z = 6.3 equates to an explosion taking place 12.8 billion years ago, when the Universe was a mere 890 million years old. Three groups this week present detailed observations of the γ-ray, X-ray, near-infrared and optical spectra of the afterglow of GRB 050904. The results begin to paint a picture of the conditions prevailing when the parent body exploded and suggest that the γ-ray bursts that we see in the future can be used by cosmologists to probe the early Universe for evidence of star and galaxy formation, nucleosynthesis and reionization.

Suggested Citation

  • N. Kawai & G. Kosugi & K. Aoki & T. Yamada & T. Totani & K. Ohta & M. Iye & T. Hattori & W. Aoki & H. Furusawa & K. Hurley & K. S. Kawabata & N. Kobayashi & Y. Komiyama & Y. Mizumoto & K. Nomoto & J. , 2006. "An optical spectrum of the afterglow of a γ-ray burst at a redshift of z = 6.295," Nature, Nature, vol. 440(7081), pages 184-186, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:440:y:2006:i:7081:d:10.1038_nature04498
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04498
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