Observation of early photons of Gamma-ray bursts from UFFO/Lomonosov

  • Jeong, Soomin (Institute for Science and Technology in Space, SKKU, Korea and IAA-CSIC) ;
  • Park, I.H. (Institute for Science and Technology in Space, SKKU)
  • Published : 2016.04.12

Abstract

Observations of the early photons from evolution of optical afterglows or internal shock provides the crucial clues on the nature of the bursts and environments. Hundreds of GRBs afterglow observations in multi-wavelength region have been made mainly thanks to the fast (~ 60 seconds after the trigger) localisation GRB by Swift and its fast alert to the ground telescope. It helps to improve our understandings tremendously, however many enigmas still remain, such as burst mechanism, transition prompt emission to the afterglow, early optical flash, rise phase of the early optical light curve and some missing afterglows. They could be addressed by fast slewing and multi colour and IR follow-up by future telescopes. The primary aim of UFFO/Lomonosov is to follow up optical fast ever, within a couple of seconds after trigger by onboard X-ray telescope. Its optical FOV is $30{\times}30degrees$. As a key instrument, the Slewing Mirror to redirect the optical beam from GRBs rapidly to the Ritchey-Chretien telescope. The status and launch schedule of the UFFO/Lomonosov and its test performance will be reported and prospects for the next missions will be discussed.

Keywords