The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer: The Latest Results
Abstract
The Swift GRB Explorer mission is designed to discover ~ 100 new gamma-ray bursts each year, and immediately (within tens of seconds) to start simultaneous X-ray, optical and ultraviolet observations of the GRB afterglow. Since its launch on 20 November 2004, it has already collected an impressive database of gamma ray bursts (reaching more sensitive limits than BATSE) uniform X-ray/UV/optical monitoring of afterglows (with a dedicated weatherless observatory with broad multi-wavelength imaging capability) and rapid followup by other observatories (utilizing a continuous ground link with burst alerts and data posted immediately to the GCN).
- Publication:
-
Astrophysical Sources of High Energy Particles and Radiation
- Pub Date:
- November 2005
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.2141830
- Bibcode:
- 2005AIPC..801...37N
- Keywords:
-
- gamma-ray sources (astronomical);
- astronomical observatories;
- space research;
- afterglows;
- 98.70.Rz;
- 95.55.Ka;
- gamma-ray sources;
- gamma-ray bursts;
- X- and gamma-ray telescopes and instrumentation