The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
Gehrels, N., et al.
The Swift mission, scheduled for launch in 2004, is a multiwavelength
observatory for gamma-ray burst (GRB) astronomy.
It is a first-of-its-kind autonomous rapid-slewing satellite for
transient astronomy and pioneers the way for future rapid-reaction
and multiwavelength missions.
It will be far more powerful than any previous GRB mission, observing
more than 100 bursts yr-1 and performing detailed X-ray and UV/optical
afterglow observations spanning timescales from 1 minute to several
days after the burst.
The objectives are to (1) determine the origin of GRBs,
(2) classify GRBs and search for new types,
(3) study the interaction of the ultrarelativistic outflows of
GRBs with their surrounding medium, and
(4) use GRBs to study the early universe out to z > 10.
The mission is being developed by a NASA-led international collaboration.
It will carry three instruments: a new-generation wide-field gamma-ray
(15-150 keV) detector that will detect bursts, calculate 1'-4'
positions, and trigger autonomous spacecraft slews;
a narrow-field X-ray telescope that will give 5" positions and
perform spectroscopy in the 0.2-10 keV band;
and a narrow-field UV/optical telescope that will operate in the
170-600 nm band and provide 0".3 positions and optical finding charts.
Redshift determinations will be made for most bursts.
In addition to the primary GRB science, the mission will perform a
hard X-ray survey to a sensitivity of 1 mcrab (2 × 10-11 ergs cm-2 s-1
in the 15-150 keV band), more than an order of magnitude better than
HEAO 1 A-4.
A flexible data and operations system will allow rapid follow-up
observations of all types of high-energy transients, with rapid
data downlink and uplink available through the NASA TDRSS system.
Swift transient data will be rapidly distributed to the astronomical
community, and all interested observers are encouraged to participate
in follow-up measurements.
A Guest Investigator program for the mission will provide funding for
community involvement.
Innovations from the Swift program applicable to the future include
(1) a large-area gamma-ray detector using the new CdZnTe detectors,
(2) an autonomous rapid-slewing spacecraft,
(3) a multiwavelength payload combining optical, X-ray, and
gamma-ray instruments,
(4) an observing program coordinated with other ground-based and
space-based observatories, and
(5) immediate multiwavelength data flow to the community.
The mission is currently funded for 2 yr of operations, and
the spacecraft will have a lifetime to orbital decay of 8 yr.
Status:
2004, ApJ, 611, 1005.
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