Gamma-ray Burst Host Galaxies as Probes of Galaxy Formation and Evolution

TL;DR

This paper reviews how gamma-ray burst host galaxies serve as tools to understand galaxy formation, evolution, and the environments that produce GRBs, with recent findings impacting progenitor models and high-redshift star formation studies.

Contribution

It summarizes recent research on LGRB host galaxies, highlighting their role in probing progenitors, energetics, and cosmological applications, especially at high redshifts.

Findings

Host galaxy properties inform GRB progenitor models.

LGRB hosts are useful for tracing star formation at high redshifts.

Implications for galaxy evolution above z ~ 6.

Abstract

Host galaxies are an excellent means of probing the natal environments that generate gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Surveys of long-duration GRB (LGRB) host environments and their ISM properties have produced intriguing new results with important implications for LGRB progenitor models. These host studies are also critical in evaluating the utility of LGRBs as potential tracers of star formation and metallicity at high redshifts, particularly when considering the implications for properties of host galaxies above z ~ 6. I will summarize our group's latest research on LGRB host galaxies, and discuss the resulting impact on our understanding of these events' progenitors, energetics, afterglow properties, and cosmological applications.