K. Zhirkov

About

K. Zhirkov is a leading observational astrophysicist specializing in high-energy transient phenomena, with a focus on multi-messenger astronomy and robotic optical follow-up. As a key member of the MASTER Global Robotic Net, Zhirkov has made critical contributions to the real-time optical identification of gravitational-wave events, gamma-ray bursts, fast radio bursts, and high-energy neutrino progenitors. Their work provided the earliest astronomical observation of a high-energy neutrino error box, offering strong evidence for its progenitor—a landmark achievement in multi-messenger astrophysics. Zhirkov’s research has systematically linked optical variability with gamma- and X-ray characteristics across hundreds of GRB error boxes, and their team’s automated detection system has enabled rapid, wide-field surveys of LIGO/Virgo event regions. With over 80 citations across their most cited papers, including a comprehensive review of MASTER’s multi-message observations, Zhirkov’s impact is evident in advancing our understanding of the extreme universe. Their dedication to real-time, robotic observation continues to shape the future of transient astrophysics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Optical Observations Reveal Strong Evidence for High-energy Neutrino Progenitor

   28 citations · 2020
2. 2
   MASTER Real-Time Multi-Message Observations of High Energy Phenomena

   19 citations · 2022
3. 3
   Early Optical Observations of Gamma-Ray Bursts Compared with Their Gamma- and X-Ray Characteristics Using a MASTER Global Network of Robotic Telescopes from Lomonosov Moscow State University

   15 citations · 2020
4. 4
   Strategy and Results of MASTER Network Follow-Up Observations of LIGO and Virgo Gravitational Wave Events within the Observational Sets O1, O2, and O3

   9 citations · 2022
5. 5
   Extreme Universe through the Eyes of Master Global Robotic Net

   6 citations · 2023
6. 6
   Optical Transients Found by MASTER during the Observation of LIGO/VIRGO S200219ac Gravitational-wave Event

   2 citations · 2020
7. 7
   MASTER Optical Observation of LIGO/VIRGO S200224ca Error-box

   2 citations · 2020

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links