학술논문
The Swift X-Ray Te1escope: Status and Performance
Document Type
Report
Author
Burrows, David N; Kennea, J.A; Abbey, A.F; Beardmore, A; Campana, S; Capalbi, M; Chincarini, G; Cusumano, G; Evans, P.A; Hill, J.E; Giommi, P; Goad, M; Godet, O; Moretti, A; Morris, D.C; Osborne, J.P; Pagani, C; Page, K.L; Perri, M; Racusin, J; Romano, P; Starling, R.L.C; Tagliaferri, G; Tamburelli, F; Tyler, L.G
Source
Submitted to SPIE Proceedings.
Subject
Language
English
Abstract
We present science highlights and performance from the Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT), which was launched on November 20,2004. The XRT covers the 0.2-10 keV band, and spends most of its time observing gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows, though it has also performed observations of many other objects. By mid-August 2007, the XRT had observed over 220 GRB afterglows, detecting about 96% of them. The XRT positions enable followup ground-based optical observations, with roughly 60% of the afterglows detected at optical or near IR wavelengths. Redshifts are measured for 33% of X-ray afterglows. Science highlights include the discovery of flaring behavior at quite late times, with implications for GRB central engines; localization of short GRBs, leading to observational support for compact merger progenitors for this class of bursts; a mysterious plateau phase to GRB afterglows; as well as many other interesting observations such as X-ray emission from comets, novae, galactic transients, and other objects.