GRB 080607 has provided the first observational signatures of molecular absorption bands toward any galaxy hosting a gamma-ray burst (GRB). Despite the identification of dozens of features as belonging to various atomic and molecular (H$_2$ and CO) …
We report on strong H$_2$ and CO absorption from gas within the host galaxy of gamma-ray burst (GRB) 080607. Analysis of our Keck/LRIS afterglow spectrum reveals a very large H I column density (N_H I = 10̂22.70 ± 0.15 cm-̂2) and strong metal-line …
We examine the abundance of molecular hydrogen (H$_2$) in the spectra of gamma ray burst afterglows (GRBs). In nearby galaxies, H$_2 $ traces the cold neutral medium (CNM) and dense molecular star-forming interstellar gas. Although H$_2$ is detected …