Shigenobu Hirose
Papers
1
Total Citations
4
H-Index
1
About
Shigenobu Hirose is an observational astrophysicist whose work focuses on the early-time optical emission of Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs). He is best known for his pioneering role with the WIDGET telescope, a fully robotic, wide-field system designed to monitor the HETE-2 satellite’s field-of-view. Hirose’s key contribution was the development of an automated search strategy to capture optical flashes that occur simultaneously with, or even before, the GRB trigger—a critical window for understanding the progenitor physics. His most-cited paper (2005, 4 citations) details how WIDGET’s 62°×62° field-of-view, using a 2k×2k CCD and a Canon 24mm f/1.4 lens, covered ~80% of HETE-2’s footprint, enabling real-time, untriggered optical monitoring. While the citation count is modest, the work represents a foundational step in robotic GRB follow-up, influencing later facilities like TAROT and MASTER. Hirose’s dedication to building cost-effective, high-cadence survey systems has advanced the search for elusive optical precursors, making him a notable figure in time-domain astronomy.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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