The goal of the Gamma Ray Science Interest Group (GR SIG) is to provide quantitative metrics and assessments to NASA in regard to current and future needs of hard X-ray and gamma-ray astrophysics community. Specifically, the activities of the GR SIG include:
Act as a focal point and forum for the hard X-ray and gamma ray communities.
Organize bi-weekly telecons to discuss recent science results, and current and future missions.
Maintain a list of technology needs for future hard X-ray and gamma-ray missions.
Produce suggestions to help support the specific needs of this unique community: organizational, scientific, funding.
The GR SIG is open to all members of the community. If you are interested in contributing to the work of the GR SIG, please subscribe using the link below. You can contact the GR SIG members Justin Finke (NRL) at justin.finke@nrl.navy.mil, Eric Burns (Louisiana State Univ.) at erickayserburns@gmail.com, and Manel Errando (Washington U. St. Louis) at errando@physics.wustl.edu.
Thursday, 25 Jan 2018, 2:00 P.M.–3:00 P.M. Eastern
Two 15-min talks:
Dr. Bruce Grossan (Berkley) will talk about The Future of Gamma-Ray Burst Science [PDF].
Dr. Jeremy Perkins (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) will present Burstcube [PDF].
Open discussion
Thursday, 14 Dec 2017, 2:00 P.M.–3:00 P.M. Eastern
The role of the NASA Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group (PhysPAG) and the Gamma-ray Science Interest Group (GammaSIG).
Steering Committee members needed for the new Multi-Messenger Astrophysics Science Analysis Group (MMA-SAG)
Two 15-min talks on HAWC/Fermi science:
Dr. Petra Huentemeyer (Michigan Technological University) will talk about HAWC results and the importance of lower energy gamma-rays to support HAWC science.
Dr. Giacomo Vianello (Stanford University) will present the current joint analysis efforts and the synergies between HAWC and Fermi [PDF].
Open discussion
Thursday, 16 Nov 2017, 1:00 P.M.–2:00 P.M. Eastern
Two talks on Gravitational Wave/Gamma Ray Burst observations and discussion (20 minutes each and remainder discussion):
Black and Gold: The Astrophysics of the Compact Binary Merger GW170817/GRB170817A. Dr. Leo Singer (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) [PDF]
The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor Aspects of GW/GRB Detections, and the vision for the future to support this research field. Dr. Colleen Wilson-Hodge (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and PI of the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor) [PDF]
NASA Missions Study What May Be a 1-In-10,000-Year Gamma-ray Burst
On Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, a pulse of intense radiation swept through the solar system so exceptional that astronomers quickly dubbed it the BOAT – the brightest of all time. The source was a gamma-ray burst (GRB), the most powerful class of explosions in the universe. Read more.
