Search for Optical Transients Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts and Other Astrophysical Phenomena

阿克洛夫博士为机器人光学瞬变搜索实验(ROTSE)设计并建造了三台互补仪器。这些仪器以三种方式改进了现有的探测神秘伽马射线暴的光学对应物的尝试：(1)它们不需要准确的爆发位置的X射线确定；(2)它们在爆发后不久就对爆发位置进行成像，以及(3)它们可以进行困难的背景研究。ROTSE可能是目前运行中的最先进的仪器，它可以提供有关产生伽马射线暴的物理过程的信息。伽马射线暴是一种持续时间短、能量高的伽马射线暴。它们被目前正在飞行的几颗卫星探测到。这些事件的X射线、光学和射电余辉的发现发生在1997年。ROTSE旨在对伽马射线暴探测做出反应，并向科学界提供早期警报，以便立即跟进可能的候选人。*

Dr. Akerlof has designed and constructed three complementary instruments for the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE). These instruments improve on existing attempts to detect optical counterparts of the enigmatic gamma ray bursts in three ways: (1) they do not require accurate x-ray determinations of burst location; (2) they image burst locations very soon after burst onset, and (3) they can perform difficult background studies. ROTSE is probably the most advanced instrument currently in operation which may provide information about the physical processes that produce gamma ray bursts.Gamma ray bursts are short duration, high energy bursts of gamma rays. They are detected by several satellites currently flying. The discovery of x-ray, optical and radio afterglows of these events occurred in 1997. ROTSE is designed to respond to a gamma ray burst detection and provide early alerts to the scientific community to permit immediate follow-up of possible candidates.***