Published April 14, 2003 | Version v1
Journal article

The Swift X-Ray telescope

  • 1. Penn State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802 (United States)
  • 2. University of Leicester (United Kingdom)
  • 3. Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera (Italy)

Description

The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer is designed to make prompt multiwavelength observations of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) and their afterglows. The X-ray Telescope (XRT) provides key capabilities that permit Swift to determine GRB positions with several arcsecond accuracy within 100 seconds of the burst onset. We present an overview of the XRT and its capabilities. The XRT is designed to observe GRB afterglows covering 7 orders of magnitude in flux in the 0.2-10 keV band, with completely autonomous operation. Accurate GRB positions are determined within seconds of target acquisition and are sent to the ground for distribution over the GCN. The XRT can also measure redshifts of GRBs if they have Fe line emission or other spectral features

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
AIP Conference Proceedings
Journal Volume
662
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 488-490
ISSN
0094-243X
CODEN
APCPCS

Conference

Title
International meeting on gamma ray burst and afterglow astronomy
Dates
5-9 Nov 2001
Place
Woods Hole, MA (United States)

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
35067884
Subject category
S46: INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference
Descriptors DEI
ACCURACY; AFTERGLOW; COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS; RED SHIFT; TELESCOPES; X RADIATION
Descriptors DEC
COSMIC RADIATION; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; IONIZING RADIATIONS; PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION; RADIATIONS

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2003 American Institute of Physics