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Astrophysicist J. Patrick Lestrade to Explore Mysteries of Universe in Embry-Riddle Talk

J. Patrick Lestrade Daytona Beach, Fla., March 17, 2004 -- Astrophysicist J. Patrick Lestrade will discuss the intriguing deep-space explosions known as gamma-ray bursts Saturday, April 3, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 8 p.m. in the L. Gale Lemerand Auditorium of the Capt. Willie Miller Instructional Center.

As the presenter of the third Fred Elston Memorial Lecture on Gravitation, titled "Cosmic Gamma-Ray Bursts: Signals of Warped Space-Time," Lestrade will explain gamma-ray bursts and probe their impications for our understanding of the universe.

Gamma-ray bursts, so called because the invisible light they emit is almost purely gamma radiation, are bright explosive flashes of the highest energy level. Unlike supernova explosions, which have been studied for centuries, gamma-ray bursts have been detected only in the last few decades and only by specialized telescopes. They are unpredictable and fleeting, lasting a few seconds to a few minutes before disappearing.

At first, gamma-ray bursts were thought to originate in our own Milky Way galaxy, but it is now known that they come from the farthest reaches of outer space, making them perhaps the largest explosions in the universe since the Big Bang. If these phenomena, like supernovas, are caused by the collapse of large stars into black holes, a gamma-ray burst could be thought of as the final death cry of a massive star, a beam of light that is seen across the universe, signaling gravity's ultimate warping of space-time.

"We're excited to have a scientist of Dr. Lestrade's caliber visit Embry-Riddle," says Anthony Reynolds, organizer of the event. "He was among the first to study gamma-ray bursts using the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory satellite. His talk will give the Daytona Beach community a glimpse into the world of modern astrophysics and our current understanding of how the universe works."

Lestrade is a professor in the Physics and Astronomy Dept. at Mississippi State University. He is the co-author of 65 published papers on gamma-ray bursts, solar energy, and planetary atmospheres. As the recipient of several NASA contracts, Lestrade has conducted research into the remote sensing of gamma-ray bursts.

He holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Space Physics and Astronomy, both from Rice University, an M.S. in Physics from Purdue University, and a B.S. in Physics from Louisiana State University.

The Physical Sciences Dept. at Embry-Riddle presents the lecture as a special feature of its Elston Relativity and Gravitation Symposium, named in honor of the late Fred Elston, a longtime Embry-Riddle professor.

For more information, contact Anthony Reynolds at (386) 226-7752 or reynodb2@erau.edu.

Embry-Riddle, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, meets the needs of students and industry through its educational, training, research, and consulting activities. Embry-Riddle educates more than 28,000 students annually through the master level at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Extended Campus at more than 130 teaching centers in the United States and Europe, and worldwide through distance learning.