The Swift gamma-ray burst mission
The Swift gamma-ray burst mission
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DOI：
10.1086/422091
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发表时间：
2004-08-20
影响因子：
4.9
通讯作者：
Zhang, WW
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gehrels, N;Chincarini, G;Zhang, WW
Swift使命定于2004年发射，是一个伽马射线暴天文学的多波长观测站。它是首个用于瞬变天文学的自主快速回转卫星，并为未来的快速反应和多波长任务开辟了道路。它将比以前的任何伽玛射线暴使命都要强大得多，每年（-1）观测100多次爆发，并进行详细的X射线和紫外线/光学余辉观测，时间跨度从爆发后1分钟到几天。目的是（1）确定伽玛暴的起源，（2）对伽玛暴进行分类并寻找新的类型，（3）研究伽玛暴的超相对论流出与周围介质的相互作用，（4）利用伽玛暴研究z>10的早期宇宙。这项使命是由美国宇航局领导的国际合作开发的。它将携带三种仪器：新一代宽场伽马射线（15-150千电子伏）探测器，将探测爆发，计算1“-4”位置，并触发自主航天器回转;窄场X射线望远镜，将给出5”位置，并在0.2-10千电子伏波段进行光谱分析;以及一个窄视场紫外/光学望远镜，它将在170-600纳米波段工作，并提供0”.3位置和光学观测图。对大多数爆发都将进行红移测定。除了主要的伽玛射线暴科学外，使命还将进行一次硬X射线探测，其灵敏度接近1 mcrab（在15-150 keV波段，相当于2 × 10（-11）尔格cm（-2）s（-1）），比HEAO 1 A-4高一个数量级以上。一个灵活的数据和操作系统将允许对所有类型的高能瞬变进行快速跟踪观测，并通过美国航天局的TDRSS系统提供快速的数据下行链路和上行链路。斯威夫特瞬态数据将迅速分发给天文学界，并鼓励所有感兴趣的观测者参加后续测量。使命的客座调查员方案将为社区参与提供资金。Swift计划适用于未来的创新包括：（1）使用新的CdZnTe探测器的大面积伽马射线探测器，（2）自主快速回转航天器，（3）结合光学，X射线和伽马射线仪器的多波长有效载荷，（4）与其他地面和空间观测站协调的观测计划，以及（5）向社区提供即时多波长数据流。该使命目前的资金为2年的运作，航天器将有一个寿命轨道衰变类似于8年。
The Swift mission, scheduled for launch in 2004, is a multiwavelength observatory for gamma-ray burst (GRB) astronomy. It is a first-of-its-kind autonomous rapid-slewing satellite for transient astronomy and pioneers the way for future rapid-reaction and multiwavelength missions. It will be far more powerful than any previous GRB mission, observing more than 100 bursts yr(-1) and performing detailed X-ray and UV/optical afterglow observations spanning timescales from 1 minute to several days after the burst. The objectives are to (1) determine the origin of GRBs, (2) classify GRBs and search for new types, (3) study the interaction of the ultrarelativistic outflows of GRBs with their surrounding medium, and (4) use GRBs to study the early universe out to z>10. The mission is being developed by a NASA-led international collaboration. It will carry three instruments: a new-generation wide-field gamma-ray (15-150 keV) detector that will detect bursts, calculate 1'-4' positions, and trigger autonomous spacecraft slews; a narrow-field X-ray telescope that will give 5" positions and perform spectroscopy in the 0.2-10 keV band; and a narrow-field UV/optical telescope that will operate in the 170-600 nm band and provide 0".3 positions and optical finding charts. Redshift determinations will be made for most bursts. In addition to the primary GRB science, the mission will perform a hard X-ray survey to a sensitivity of similar to1 mcrab (similar to2x10(-11) ergs cm(-2) s(-1) in the 15-150 keV band), more than an order of magnitude better than HEAO 1 A-4. A flexible data and operations system will allow rapid follow-up observations of all types of high-energy transients, with rapid data downlink and uplink available through the NASA TDRSS system. Swift transient data will be rapidly distributed to the astronomical community, and all interested observers are encouraged to participate in follow-up measurements. A Guest Investigator program for the mission will provide funding for community involvement. Innovations from the Swift program applicable to the future include (1) a large-area gamma-ray detector using the new CdZnTe detectors, (2) an autonomous rapid-slewing spacecraft, (3) a multiwavelength payload combining optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray instruments, (4) an observing program coordinated with other ground-based and space-based observatories, and (5) immediate multiwavelength data flow to the community. The mission is currently funded for 2 yr of operations, and the spacecraft will have a lifetime to orbital decay of similar to8 yr.