The Swift XRT: Highlights and Status
Abstract
The Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT) has successfully operated for over 3 years, compiling a database of over 250 GRB afterglow lightcurves. Key discoveries have included short GRB counterparts, X-ray flares from GRBs, and complex light curves with multiple segments. The XRT has also found the first shock breakout from a SN (SN2006aj), produced the most complete light curve to date of a recurrent nova supersoft phase (RS Oph), discovered the orbital period of what may be the most massive stellar mass black hole known (IC 10), and has become a workhorse for the precise location and monitoring of a wide variety of galactic and extragalactic transient sources, including a long-term monitoring campaign of the Galactic Center. Several of these observations will be discussed in more detail in the Swift special session at this meeting. I will highlight just a few of these results and will briefly discuss the current status of the instrument and improvements in the operating parameters that have resulted in improved performance.
- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #10
- Pub Date:
- March 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008HEAD...10.3603B