Status report of the UFFO-pathfinder

FOR THE UFFO COLLABORATION

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are the most energetic explosions in the universe, their optical photon flux rise very quickly, typically within one minute, then fall off gradually. Hundreds of GRBs optical light curves have been measured since the first discovery of GRB in 1967. However, only a handful of measurements have been made within a minute after the gamma ray signal. Because of this drawback, the short-hard type GRBs and rapid-rising GRBs, which may account for 30% of all GRBs, remain practically unexplored. To reach sub-minute timescales, the Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) uses a rapidly moving mirror to redirect the optical beam instead of slewing the entire spacecraft. The first realization of this concept is UFFO-pathfinder, which is equipped with fast-response Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT) and a UFFO Burst Alert and Trigger Telescope (UBAT). SMT has a slewing mirror to redirect optical photons into a telescope and then record them by an intensified CCD. UBAT uses coded mask to provide X-ray trigger from a GRB and provides the GRB location for SMT. UFFOs sub-minute measurements of the optical emission of dozens of GRBs each year will result in a more rigorous test of current internal shock models, probe the extremes of bulk Lorentz factors, provide the first early and detailed measurements of fast-rise GRB optical light curves, and help verify the prospect of GRB as a new standard candle. The UFFO-pathfinder is fully integrated with the Lomonosov satellite and is scheduled to be launched in late 2013 or early 2014. We will present the latest progress in this conference.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 33rd International Cosmic Rays Conference, ICRC 2013
PublisherSociedade Brasileira de Fisica
ISBN (Electronic)9788589064293
StatePublished - 2 Jul 2013
Event33rd International Cosmic Rays Conference, ICRC 2013 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Duration: 2 Jul 20139 Jul 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 33rd International Cosmic Rays Conference, ICRC 2013
Volume2013-October

Conference

Conference33rd International Cosmic Rays Conference, ICRC 2013
Country/TerritoryBrazil
CityRio de Janeiro
Period2/07/139/07/13

Keywords

  • Coded mask
  • Gamma Ray Burst
  • Satellite Instruments
  • X rays

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