Description
Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are the furthest explosions
known. As such they are valuable probes of energetic
explosions and fluctuating beacons seen through nearly
the entire intervening universe. Although almost every
physical mechanism behind GRBs is debated, leading
theories will be reviewed including expansion physics
and candidate progenitor objects. The phenomenology
of GRBs will be reviewed including prompt emission,
afterglows, common light curve features, and candidate
standard candles. Searches for GRB coincidences with
detectors sensitive to neutrinos, gravitational radiation,
cosmic rays, and extremely high energy photons will be
reviewed. Searches for gravitational lensing by
intervening dark matter and Lorentz invariance
violations by intervening quantum foam will be reviewed,
as will possible effects GRBs could have on the Earth.
Relevant parts of the lecturer's own research will also be
briefly mentioned.
