Ultra-fast flash observatory for observation of early photons from gamma ray bursts

I. H. Park*, S. Ahmad, P. Barrillon, S. Brandt, C. Budtz-Jorgensen, A. J. Castro-Tirado, P. Chen, Y. J. Choi, P. Connell, S. Dagoret-Campagne, C. Eyles, B. Grossan, M. H.A. Huang, S. Jeong, A. Jung, J. E. Kim, M. B. Kima, S. W. Kim, Y. W. Kim, A. S. KrasnovJ. Lee, H. Lim, E. V. Linder, T. C. Liu, N. Lund, K. W. Min, G. W. Na, J. W. Nam, M. I. Panasyuk, J. Ripa, V. Reglero, J. M. Rodrigo, G. F. Smoot, J. E. Suh, S. Svertilov, N. Vedenkin, M. Z. Wang, I. Yashin

*Corresponding author for this work

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

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe the space project of Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) which will observe early optical photons from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with a sub-second optical response, for the first time. The UFFO will probe the early optical rise of GRBs, opening a completely new frontier in GRB and transient studies, using a fast response Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT) that redirects optical path to telescope instead of slewing of telescopes or spacecraft. In our small UFFO-Pathfinder experiment, scheduled to launch aboard the Lomonosov satellite in 2012, we use a motorized mirror in our Slewing Mirror Telescope instrument to achieve less than one second optical response after X-ray trigger. We describe the science and the mission of the UFFO project, including a next version called UFFO-100. With our program of ultra-fast optical response GRB observatories, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of GRB mechanisms, and potentially open up the z>10 universe to study via GRB as point source emission probes.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012
Subtitle of host publicationUltraviolet to Gamma Ray
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
EventSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Duration: 1 Jul 20126 Jul 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8443
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityAmsterdam
Period1/07/126/07/12

Keywords

  • Gamma Ray Bursts
  • Lomonosov spacecraft
  • Optical Light Curve
  • Slewing Mirror Telescope
  • UV/Optical afterglows
  • Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory

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