Modeling the host galaxies of long-duration gamma-ray bursts

Abstract

We present the first results of our investigation into the ISM environments of long-duration GRB (LGRB) host galaxies. We apply a new suite of stellar population synthesis and photoionization models to new, uniform, rest-frame optical observations of eight LGRB host galaxies ranging from z = 0.01 to z = 0.81. We also compare these hosts to a variety of local and intermediate-redshift galaxy populations. We find that LGRB host galaxies generally have low-metallicity ISM environments. As a whole, the ISM properties of our LGRB hosts set them apart from the general galaxy population, host galaxies of nearby Type Ic supernovae, and nearby metal-poor galaxies. With these comparisons we investigate whether LGRB host galaxies may be used as accurate tracers of star formation in distant galaxies.

4 pages; to appear in proceedings of "The Shocking Universe: Gamma Ray Bursts and High Energy Shock Phenomena in the Universe"