Optical observations of afterglows of gamma ray bursts localized by the high energy transient explorer

Abstract

In this thesis, I discuss observations of the optical afterglows of seven HETE GRBs, carried out mainly with the Magellan Telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Five of the bursts, GRBs 020331, 030115, 030418, 030723, and 030725, had optical afterglows. I was able to make detections of all but GRB 030115. GRBs 011212 and 020531 did not have observed afterglows, and with 030115, I can place constraining upperlimits on their optical or near infrared afterglows. For the bursts which were detected, I have constructed light curves from my data and that available from the literature in order to study the nature of these afterglows and compare them to the available theoretical models.