The Gamma-ray Burst – Superluminous Supernova Connection

Gamma-ray bursts are the most powerful explosive events in the universe, releasing as much energy in 10 seconds as the entire Milky Way galaxy does in several years. They are associated with either the collapse of very massive stars (long gamma-ray bursts) or collisions between two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole (short gamma-ray bursts). Because of this, gamma-ray bursts can tell us about some of the most extreme environments in nature, and are confirmed counterparts to gravitational-wave sources.

This project focuses on the engines powering ‘ultra-long’ gamma-ray bursts. Unlike normal events lasting seconds to minutes, these colossal explosions have durations measured in hours or even days, requiring novel engines to drive them. They are sometimes seen with unusually bright supernovae whose evolution suggests they could be powered by an extremely magnetised neutron star that has somehow resisted collapsing to a black hole. Students will have the opportunity to research the systems that produce gamma-ray bursts; the environments they explode into; their connection to superluminous supernovae; and how we can use them to probe the interiors of neutron stars, some of the densest objects in the universe.

An interested student will be able to join international collaborations like GOTO, LSST:UK, STARGATE, and ENGRAVE, and gain access to some of the most powerful telescopes and satellite observatories in the world.

For more information, please email Dr. Ben Gompertz (bgompertz[at]star.sr.bham.ac.uk)