The Swift GRB MIDEX Mission

1. The Swift GRB MIDEX Mission Neil Gehrels NASA-GSFC Beyond Einstein Meeting May 13, 2004

2. Completed Swift Observatoryin GSFC Clean Room !!Launch from KSC Planned for Sept. or Oct. 2004

3. Swift Designed to Answer GRB Key Questions What is the nature of subclasses? What causes GRBs? What can GRBs tell us about the early universe? What physics can be learned about BH formation and ultra-relativistic outflows?

4. Swift Instruments Instruments XRT UVOT BAT • Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) • New CdZnTe detectors • Most sensitive gamma-ray imager ever • X-Ray Telescope (XRT) • Arcsecond GRB positions • CCD spectroscopy • UV/Optical Telescope(UVOT) • Sub-arcsec imaging • Grism spectroscopy • 24th mag sensitivity (1000 sec) • Finding chart for other observers • Autonomous re-pointing, 20 - 70 s • Onboard and ground triggers OpticalBench Spacecraft

5. Swift Instruments

6. Swift Mission Payload TDRSS BATXRTUVOT GCN Spacecraft Spectrum Astro Rapid Autonomous Slews Mission Operations Center (MOC) PSU Malindi Science Center GSFC GCN & Web HEASARC UK Italian Archives User Community Delta 2320 600 km X22oinclination Launcher

7. Mission Capabilities BAT • Multiwavelength observations on all time scales • >100 GRBs per year of all types • BAT sensitivity 2 - 5 time better than BATSE • Arcsec positions & counterparts for 100’s GRBs • Rapid GRB notifications via GCN • Identification of host galaxies offsets • X-ray and UV/optical spectroscopy • Orbital lifetime > 8 years • Upload capability to slew to GRB and transients detected by other observatories XRT UVOT

8. Swift Science (1) • Supernova-GRB connection • Connections between SNe Ic and GRB are emerging. • GRBs are contributing to fundamental understanding of Core collapse, BH formation, the role of spin, origin of jets, origin of elements • Swift's rapid subarcsec positions and lightcurve monitoring will allow SN searches on 100's GRBs. • Questions addressed: What fraction and what kinds of GRBs have underlying SN? What fraction and what kinds of SN have accompanying GRBs? SN1998bw - GRB 980425 GRB 980326

9. Swift Science (2) Hard S 100 - 300 keV / S 50 - 100 keV Soft 90 % Width ( sec ) • Swift sensitive to • Normal l o n g GRBs • ShortGRBs • X-Ray Flashes R • Weak GRBs • Nano flashes •  •  • U l t r a - l o n g GRBs • GRBs subclasses - example: short GRBs • Not understood. No counterparts detected. Appears to be a separate class. • Non-detection of GRB 020531 indicates afterglow is weak or rapidly declining. • Swift will perform rapid follow-up observations of ~100 short GRBs

10. Swift Science (3) Lamb & Reichart (2000) • Early Universe • GRBs are the brightest events in universe. • Afterglow is detectable to z~15 by Swift (3 to15 per year at z>10) • Topics addressed: • Epoch of first stars (GRB may be unique probe of Pop III stars) • Star formation history • Re-ionization of IGM • Metallicity history • Dust and gas content of early galaxies • Large-scale structure of universe

11. UVOT UVOT XRT

16. SAA Preplanned Automated Activation Calibration Time in Weeks Swift News • Complete Swift observatory is undergoing testing leading to shipment to KSC • Following launch, 1.5 months activation and 3 months verification • 35 proposals selected for Cycle 1 of Guest Investigator program • Swift follow-up team coordinated by K. Hurley, EPO team coordinated by L. Cominsky • Rapid dissemination of GRB positions and data to the world community via GCN & WWW. • Burst Advocates assigned for each burst. Responsibility to assure that • Swift data for the GRB are analyzed properly and promptly • Follow-up observations are coordinated • Burst notifications and publications are produced • GRB observations in year 1 • All BAT GRB positions slewed to if allowed • 20 ks automated observations by XRT & UVOT, • Further planned observations scheduled from ground