A Search for prompt Gamma-Ray Burst emission with a new wide field optical camera
Abstract
We describe a new fast wide-field optical camera deployed in the North Caucasus whose primary purpose is to perform continuous, alert-independent observations of optical transients (OT) and variable astrophysical sources simultaneously with space-born wide-field X- and γ-ray telescopes. In particular the camera can detect possible optical precursors to and early prompt emission from cosmic Gamma-Ray Burst sources. The essential characteristics of the camera are a FOV= 17° × 20°, a frame frequency of 7 sec-1, and a limiting magnitude (at 0.12 s exposure) of 11.^m5. The software is able to search for and identify various classes of OTs in real-time. We will present first results and discuss the search strategy, based on synchronous observations of the HETE-2 WXM field of view in late 2003 and 2004.
- Publication:
-
35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004cosp...35.3996P