Alberto J. Castro-Tirado

Alberto J. Castro-Tirado was born in the Andalucian town of Málaga, southern Spain, in 1966. He got his M.S. degree at the University of Granada in 1989, being awarded in 1987 in the European Philips Contest for Young Scientists and Inventors, with a work in clusters and superclusters of galaxies. In 1990, he moved to the Danish Space Research Institute in Lyngby in order to work with the WATCH X-ray instrument aboard the Russian Granat satellite. He discovered GRS 1915+105, which later became the most massive stellar black hole known in our Galaxy. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Copenhagen University in 1994, just before moving to LAEFF-INTA in Madrid, Spain. In 2000 he became “Cientifo Titular” (staff member) at Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC) in Granada. Currently, he is working in the field of high-energy astrophysics and multiwavelength astronomy, especially in relation to compact objects (neutron stars, black holes) and the enigmatic gamma-ray bursts (the most energetic phenomena in the Universe after the Big Bang). In the latter field, he is coordinating observations with a large number of facilities worldwide. He is also involved in the technological development of instruments for space missions (Co-I for the JEM-X telescope on ESA's satelite Integral) and has led the pioneering work in Spain regarding the design and robotization of rapid-slewing optical/near-infrared telescopes (BOOTES project) of which he is PI. In 2004 he obtained (together with another 17 scientists) the European Union Descartes Award for research in the gamma-ray burst field. In 2006 he was awarded with an international patent regarding a sensitive, high format, all-sky camera (which is being used in the BOOTES stations) and in 2007 was promoted to “Investigador Científico” at CSIC. He has written more then 150 papers for specialized scientific journals (including Science and Nature), besides his book X-ray Astronomy (1999) in spanish (prologued by R. Giacconi).

Biography Updated on 22 January 2008

Personal Home Page

http://www.iaa.es/~ajct/

Articles in Scholarly Journals [Incomplete List]

  1. The variable X-ray light curve of GRB 050713A: the case of refreshed shocks
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 461, no. 1, pp. 95–101, 2007
  2. X-ray flashes or soft gamma-ray bursts?
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 461, no. 2, pp. 485–492, 2007
  3. Optical observations of GRB 060124 afterglow: a case for an injection break
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 464, no. 3, pp. 903–908, 2007
  4. Extensive multiband study of the X-ray rich GRB?050408
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 462, no. 3, pp. L57–L60, 2007
  5. The nature of the X-ray flash of August 24 2005
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 466, no. 3, pp. 839–846, 2007
  6. Asteroid 2002NY40 as a source of meteorite-dropping bolides
    Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 0, no. 0, pp. 071117033547002–???, 2007
  7. The Spanish fireball network
    Astronomy & Geophysics, vol. 47, no. 6, pp. 6.26–6.28, 2006
  8. Infrared and Optical Observations of GRB 030115 and its Extremely Red Host Galaxy: Implications for Dark Bursts
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 647, no. 1, pp. 471–482, 2006
  9. Revealing the Jet Structure of GRB 030329 with High-Resolution Multicolor Photometry
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 641, no. 1, pp. L13–L16, 2006
  10. GRB 060121: Implications of a Short-/Intermediate-Duration ?-Ray Burst at High Redshift
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 648, no. 2, pp. L83–L87, 2006
  11. Detection of optical linear polarization in the SN 2006aj/XRF 060218 non-spherical expansion
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 459, no. 3, pp. L33–L36, 2006
  12. The bright optical flash from GRB?060117
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 454, no. 3, pp. L119–L122, 2006
  13. A mean redshift of 2.8 for Swift gamma-ray bursts
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 447, no. 3, pp. 897–903, 2006
  14. The short-duration GRB 050724 host galaxy in the context of the long-duration GRB hosts
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 450, no. 1, pp. 87–92, 2006
  15. Physics of the GRB 030328 afterglow and its environment
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 455, no. 2, pp. 423–431, 2006
  16. GRB 051028: an intrinsically faint gamma-ray burst at high redshift?
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 459, no. 3, pp. 763–767, 2006
  17. Multi-wavelength afterglow observations of the high redshift GRB 050730
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 460, no. 2, pp. 415–424, 2006
  18. XMM-Newton detection of relativistic Fe emission in the X-ray spectrum of SAX J1711.6–3808
    Astronomische Nachrichten, vol. 327, no. 10, pp. 1004–1007, 2006
  19. Orbital Elements of 2004 Perseid Meteoroids Perturbed by Jupiter
    Earth, Moon, and Planets, vol. 97, no. 3-4, pp. 269–278, 2006
  20. A photometric redshift of z = 6.39 ± 0.12 for GRB 050904
    Nature, vol. 440, no. 7081, Article ID nature04552, 2 pages, 2006
  21. Long ?-ray bursts and core-collapse supernovae have different environments
    Nature, vol. 441, no. 7092, Article ID nature04787, 5 pages, 2006
  22. An optical supernova associated with the X-ray flash XRF 060218
    Nature, vol. 442, no. 7106, Article ID nature05082, 2 pages, 2006
  23. The Development of the Spanish Fireball Network Using a New All-Sky CCD System
    Earth, Moon, and Planets, vol. 95, no. 1-4, pp. 553–567, 2005
  24. Radio, millimeter and optical monitoring of GRB 030329 afterglow: constraining the double jet model
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 440, no. 2, pp. 477–485, 2005
  25. GRB 040403: A faint X-ray rich gamma-ray burst discovered by INTEGRAL
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 433, no. 1, pp. 113–116, 2005
  26. Characterizing a new class of variability in GRS 1915+105 with simultaneous INTEGRAL/RXTE observations
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 435, no. 3, pp. 995–1004, 2005
  27. The search for the host galaxy of the gamma-ray burst GRB 000214
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 441, no. 3, pp. 975–979, 2005
  28. GRB 050509b: the elusive optical/nIR/mm afterglow of a short-duration GRB
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 439, no. 2, pp. L15–L18, 2005
  29. GRB?050904 at redshift 6.3: observations of the oldest cosmic explosion after the Big Bang
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 443, no. 1, pp. L1–L5, 2005
  30. Late-epoch optical and near-infrared observations of the GRB 000911 afterglow and its host galaxy
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 438, no. 3, pp. 841–853, 2005
  31. The GRB 030329 host: a blue low metallicity subluminous galaxy with intense star formation
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 444, no. 3, pp. 711–721, 2005
  32. A possible bright blue supernova in the afterglow of GRB 020305
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 437, no. 2, pp. 411–418, 2005
  33. GRB?021004 modelled by multiple energy injections
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 443, no. 3, pp. 841–849, 2005
  34. A Deep Search with the Hubble Space Telescope for Late-Time Supernova Signatures in the Hosts of XRF 011030 and XRF 020427
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 622, no. 2, pp. 977–985, 2005
  35. GRB 020410: A Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglow Discovered by Its Supernova Light
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 624, no. 2, pp. 880–888, 2005
  36. On the Afterglow and Host Galaxy of GRB 021004: A Comprehensive Study with the Hubble Space Telescope
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 633, no. 1, pp. 317–327, 2005
  37. On the Afterglow of the X-Ray Flash of 2003 July 23: Photometric Evidence for an Off-Axis Gamma-Ray Burst with an Associated Supernova?
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 609, no. 2, pp. 962–971, 2004
  38. Probing a Gamma-Ray Burst Progenitor at a Redshift of z = 2: A Comprehensive Observing Campaign of the Afterglow of GRB 030226
    The Astronomical Journal, vol. 128, no. 5, pp. 1942–1954, 2004
  39. BOOTES: A stereoscopic robotic ground support facility
    Astronomische Nachrichten, vol. 325, no. 6-8, pp. 679–679, 2004
  40. GRB 020813: Polarization in the case of a smooth optical decay
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 422, no. 1, pp. 113–119, 2004
  41. Early optical and millimeter observations of GRB 030226 afterglow
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 417, no. 3, pp. 919–924, 2004
  42. On the constraining observations of the dark GRB 001109 and the properties of a z = 0.398 radio selected starburst galaxy contained in its error box
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 424, no. 3, pp. 833–839, 2004
  43. On the jet structure and magnetic field configuration of GRB?020813
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 422, no. 1, pp. 121–128, 2004
  44. The host of GRB?030323?at z=3.372: A very high column density DLA system with a low metallicity
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 419, no. 3, pp. 927–940, 2004
  45. INTEGRAL observation of 3EG J1736-2908
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 425, no. 1, pp. 89–93, 2004
  46. Multiwavelength study of the very long GRB?020410
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 427, no. 2, pp. 445–452, 2004
  47. The line-of-sight towards GRB 030429 at z =2.66: Probing the matter at stellar, galactic and intergalactic scales
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 427, no. 3, pp. 785–794, 2004
  48. Discovery of the near-IR afterglow and of the host of?GRB?030528
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 427, no. 3, pp. 815–823, 2004
  49. A very energetic supernova associated with the ?-ray burst of 29 March 2003
    Nature, vol. 423, no. 6942, Article ID nature01750, 3 pages, 2003
  50. The blue host galaxy of the red GRB?000418
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 409, no. 1, pp. 123–133, 2003
  51. The optical afterglow of the not so dark GRB?021211
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 408, no. 3, pp. L21–L24, 2003
  52. JEM?X: The X-ray monitor aboard INTEGRAL
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 411, no. 1, pp. L231–L238, 2003
  53. JEM?X inflight performance
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 411, no. 1, pp. L243–L251, 2003
  54. GRB 030227: The first multiwavelength afterglow of an INTEGRAL GRB
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 411, no. 1, pp. L315–L319, 2003
  55. First INTEGRAL observations of GRS?1915+105
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 411, no. 1, pp. L415–L419, 2003
  56. Optical Photometry of GRB 021004: The First Month
    The Astronomical Journal, vol. 125, no. 5, pp. 2291–2298, 2003
  57. The Very Faint K-Band Afterglow of GRB 020819 and the Dust Extinction Hypothesis of the Dark Bursts
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 592, no. 2, pp. 1025–1034, 2003
  58. INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton Observations of the Weak Gamma-Ray Burst GRB 030227
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 590, no. 2, pp. L73–L77, 2003
  59. Very High Column Density and Small Reddening toward GRB 020124 at z?=?3.20
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 597, no. 2, pp. 699–705, 2003
  60. GRB 011121: A Collimated Outflow into Wind-blown Surroundings
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 599, no. 2, pp. 1223–1237, 2003
  61. Afterglow Upper Limits for Four Short-Duration, Hard Spectrum Gamma-Ray Bursts
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 567, no. 1, pp. 447–453, 2002
  62. Study of the Largest Multiwavelength Campaign of the Microquasar GRS 1915+105
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 571, no. 2, pp. 918–935, 2002
  63. Evidence of Spin and Energy Extraction in a Galactic Black Hole Candidate: The [ITAL]XMM-Newton[/ITAL]/EPIC-[CLC]pn[/CLC] Spectrum of XTE J1650-500
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 570, no. 2, pp. L69–L73, 2002
  64. The bright optical afterglow of the long GRB?001007
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 393, no. 2, pp. 445–451, 2002
  65. The X-ray transient XTE J1859 + 226 in outburst and quiescence
    Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 334, no. 4, pp. 999–1008, 2002
  66. IR spectra of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 during a low state
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 369, no. 1, pp. 210–214, 2001
  67. Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 276, no. 1suppl, pp. 15–18, 2001
  68. Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 276, no. 1suppl, pp. 51–54, 2001
  69. Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 276, no. 1suppl, pp. 55–56, 2001
  70. Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 276, no. 1suppl, pp. 25–28, 2001
  71. Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 276, no. 1suppl, pp. 31–34, 2001
  72. Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 276, no. 1suppl, pp. 35–38, 2001
  73. Gamma-Ray Burst Arrival-Time Localizations: Simultaneous Observations by Ulysses, Pioneer Venus Orbiter, SIGMA, WATCH, and PHEBUS
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 533, no. 2, pp. 884–889, 2000
  74. BeppoSAX Observations of GRB 980425: Detection of the Prompt Event and Monitoring of the Error Box
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 536, no. 2, pp. 778–787, 2000
  75. Discovery of the Optical Counterpart and Early Optical Observations of GRB 990712
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 540, no. 1, pp. 74–80, 2000
  76. The Bright Gamma-Ray Burst 991208: Tight Constraints on Afterglow Models from Observations of the Early-Time Radio Evolution
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 541, no. 2, pp. L45–L49, 2000
  77. Prompt and Delayed Emission Properties of Gamma-Ray Bursts Observed with BeppoSAX
    The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, vol. 127, no. 1, pp. 59–78, 2000
  78. The Ulysses Supplement to the Granat/WATCH Catalog of Cosmic Gamma-Ray Bursts
    The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, vol. 128, no. 2, pp. 549–560, 2000
  79. The Very Red Afterglow of GRB 000418: Further Evidence for Dust Extinction in a Gamma-Ray Burst Host Galaxy
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 545, no. 1, pp. 271–276, 2000
  80. Nature, vol. 398, no. 6726, pp. 394–399, 1999
  81. X-ray and optical-to-infrared follow-up observations of the transient X-ray burster SAX J1810.8-2609
    Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 308, no. 3, pp. L17–L21, 1999
  82. Decay of the GRB 990123 Optical Afterglow: Implications for the Fireball Model
    Science, vol. 283, no. 5410, pp. 2069–2073, 1999
  83. Polarimetric Constraints on the Optical Afterglow Emission from GRB 990123 
    Science, vol. 283, no. 5410, pp. 2073–2075, 1999
  84. Spectroscopic Limits on the Distance and Energy Release of GRB 990123 
    Science, vol. 283, no. 5410, pp. 2075–2077, 1999
  85. The Optical/IR Counterpart of the 1998 July 3 Gamma-Ray Burst and Its Evolution
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 511, no. 2, pp. L85–L88, 1999
  86. Photometry and Spectroscopy of the GRB 970508 Optical Counterpart
    Science, vol. 279, no. 5353, pp. 1011–1014, 1998
  87. Evidence for Diverse Optical Emission from Gamma-Ray Burst Sources
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 496, no. 1, pp. 311–315, 1998
  88. Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 263, no. 1/4, pp. 15–26, 1998
  89. [ITAL]Hubble Space Telescope[/ITAL] Imaging of the Optical Transient Associated with GRB 970508
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 492, no. 2, pp. L103–L106, 1998
  90. A Search for Optical Afterglow from GRB 970828
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 493, no. 1, pp. L27–L30, 1998
  91. Spectral Properties of the Prompt X-ray Emission and Afterglow from the Gamma-Ray Burst of 1997 February 28
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 493, no. 2, pp. L67–L70, 1998
  92. The Rapid Decay of the Optical Emission from GRB 980326 and Its Possible Implications
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 502, no. 2, pp. L123–L127, 1998
  93. Gamma-Ray Burst 980329 and Its X-Ray Afterglow
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 505, no. 2, pp. L119–L122, 1998
  94. Are Gamma-Ray Bursts Indeed Correlated with Abell Clusters of Galaxies?
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 483, no. 2, pp. L83–L86, 1997
  95. Infrared Observations of an Energetic Outburst in GRS 1915+105
    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 472, no. 2, pp. L111–L114, 1996
  96. Review of GRANAT observations of gamma-ray bursts
    Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 231, no. 1-2, pp. 31–34, 1995
  97. Study of WATCH GRB error boxes
    Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 231, no. 1-2, pp. 297–301, 1995
  98. MARIA: A large area balloon instrument
    Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 231, no. 1-2, pp. 467–470, 1995
  99. Discovery and observations by watch of the X-ray transient GRS 1915+105
    The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, vol. 92, p. 469, 1994