@phdthesis{dissertation, author = {Bolmer, Jan}, title = {Gamma-ray bursts and their host galaxies}, year = {2019}, school = {Technische Universität München}, pages = {171}, language = {en}, abstract = {Star-forming regions in high-redshift galaxies and the cosmic evolution of the interstellar medium can be studied by using gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) as background sources. The two main discoveries presented in this Thesis are, (1) that GRB host galaxies at redshift z > 4 seem to contain on average less dust than at redshift z ~ 2, indicating a transition in dust properties and dust production, and (2), that there is, in fact, no lack of molecular hydrogen in Damped Lyman-α systems associated with GRB host galaxies, and that GRBs thus offer an ideal probe of diffuse molecular gas in early galaxies.}, keywords = {gamma-ray bursts, interstellar medium, high redshift, dust, molecules}, note = {}, url = {https://mediatum.ub.tum.de/1481903}, }