GCN/TAN -- Current and Future Functionality
Abstract
The Gamma-ray Coordinates Network / Transient Astronomy Network (GCN/TAN) has been operating for 20 years. It collects all the detections of GRBs and other astrophysical transients (positions and times) and distributes that information to nearly all the observers and instruments around the world; all done automatically, with minimal time delays (seconds in most cases). In recent years several non-GRB-producing data streams have been added (gravitational lensing events from MOA and flares from AGN, novae, flare stars, etc from the Fermi, MAXI and Swift missions). And to facilitate cross-instrument temporal and spatial correlations, GCN/TAN has been modified (a) to identify in real time these correlations as the notices are distributed, and (b) producing "sub-threshold" streams from the Swift and INTEGRAL missions. The later allows other instruments (ground and flight; eg ICECUBE, and in the future aLIGO) to make correlations that would then raise the confidence level of these sub-threshold detections. These temporal/spatial correlations will be expanded to include mission-based data sets that are not real-time (ie hours to days delayed). Three VOEvent servers have been added to distribute the entire set of GCN/TAN notices in that format and method.
- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #13
- Pub Date:
- April 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013HEAD...1312724B