Recent Results and Future Prospects for the ROTSE-III Global Telescope Array
Abstract
We report on recent results obtained with the world-wide ROTSE-III network and plans for the near future. Instruments are now functioning at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia, McDonald Observatory in Texas, the H.E.S.S. facility in Namibia, and Tubitak National Observatory in Turkey. The rapid-slew ROTSE-III mounts are consistently achieving accurate targeting within ten seconds of the transmission of an alert, and images are reaching limiting magnitudes of 19-20 in 60 s exposures. Contrary to theoretical expectation, we have found two bursts that fail to show the prompt optical signal expected from the reverse shock mechanism. To study these phenomena in greater detail, we are planning to augment the ROTSE-III telescopes to obtain information about GRB spectral evolution on short time scales. Similar modifications are already being incoporated in the AEOS Burst Camera on Haleakela, Maui.
- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #8
- Pub Date:
- August 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004HEAD....8.1815S