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An Overview of the Swift Observatory

An Overview of the Swift Observatory. Liz Puchnarewicz Mullard Space Science Laboratory University College London. The Observatory. Three telescopes: BAT - g -ray Burst Alert Telescope XRT – X-Ray Telescope UVOT – UV/Optical Telescope. BAT. g -ray Burst Alert Telescope

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An Overview of the Swift Observatory

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  1. An Overview of the Swift Observatory Liz Puchnarewicz Mullard Space Science Laboratory University College London

  2. The Observatory Three telescopes: BAT - g-ray Burst Alert Telescope XRT – X-Ray Telescope UVOT – UV/Optical Telescope

  3. BAT g-ray Burst Alert Telescope coded mask 15-150keV fov = 1.4 ster psf = 20 arcmin burst position to 4 arcmin notifies GCN slews to target in ~ 60secs

  4. XRT X-Ray Telescope Jet-X telescope XMM-EPIC CCD 0.2-10keV fov 24x24 arcmin psf 15arcsec hew burst position to ~ 5 arcsec time resolution down to 5ms

  5. UVOT UV/Optical Telescope XMM-OM 170-600nm fov 17x17 arcmin psf 0.9arcsec fwhm burst position to ~0.3 arcsec 6 colours UV grism spectroscopy

  6. Observing strategy BAT detects bursts calculates positions to 1-4 arcmin triggers autonomous spacecraft slews Spacecraft slews to position in ~ 60 secs XRT imaging refines position to 5 arcsec and takes 0.2-10keV spectra UVOT makes finding chart (100 sec exposure) and searches for optical counterpart down to mV~24

  7. “Off-duty” science BAT hard X-ray (15-150 keV) survey down to ~2x10-11 erg cm-2 s-1 Absorbed AGN population (400-600 sources anticipated; currently only ~20 AGN significant at energies > 30 keV) Soft g-ray repeaters (SGRs) Rapid multiwavelength response via TDRSS uplink for, eg., AGN flares, X-ray transients, pulsar glitches, outbursts from dwarf novae and stellar flares Enormous potential for serendipitous science

  8. Data availability Previous GRB studies largely conducted via ToOs. With 2-3 bursts expected per week, scheduled observation time is now possible. To encourage follow-up, precise positions will be distributed via the GCN and are public immediately. Swift project already has in place a team of 25+ scientists to collaborate on follow-up observations. “Burst advocates” assigned 24/7 to ensure optimum exploitation of individual bursts. Observers are encouraged to make their data available on a web-accessible database

  9. A Whole New Approach As a “response” observatory and a public facility, Swift demands a new kind of scientific co-operation There is a responsibility on post-launch support teams to best exploit subsequent follow-up by Swift Led to formation of “mini-MOCs” at Leicester and MSSL (in the UK; also US and Italy) Burst advocates at mini-MOCs will co-ordinate efforts for individual bursts so are first points of contact for follow-up observers re Swift observatory planning. Communication and co-operation between Swift team and scientists will be key to success of GRB science

  10. An Overview of the Swift Observatory Useful web addresses: http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/ http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/pages/general/projects/swift/SWIFT6.html http://www.src.le.ac.uk/projects/swift/ http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/gcn/ http://msp.gsfc.nasa.gov/tdrss/oview.html

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