The University of Wyoming GRB Afterglow Follow-Up Program

Abstract

As the Swift era approaches, the University of Wyoming in Laramie has been preparing its two observatories for a robust GRB afterglow follow‐up program. The 2.3‐m Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO) — first of its kind in collecting power and mid‐infrared optimization — is located on Jelm Mt. (2944‐m elevation) in a semi‐arid atmosphere, 40 km southwest of Laramie. On dry, cold winter nights, our estimates show that WIRO’s sensitivity in the K‐band is comparable to that of a 4‐m telescope at Mauna Kea observatory in Hawaii. Three instruments are currently in use at the observatory: WIRO‐Prime, WIRO‐Spec, and the Goddard IR camera. WIRO‐Prime is a 20482 prime‐focus camera with a 20 arcmin diameter FOV (f/2.1). Its sensitivity for a 300‐s exposure will reach as faint as 24th (23rd) magnitude in V (R). WIRO‐Spec is an integral field, holographic spectrometer which utilizes Volume‐Phase‐Holographic gratings with a 20482 detector. A bundle of 293 fiber optical cables (1 fiber ∼ 1 arcsec) connects the Cassegrai...