The Swift ultra-violet/optical telescope

Peter W.A. Roming, Thomas E. Kennedy, Keith O. Mason, John A. Nousek, Lindy Ahr, Richard E. Bingham, Patrick S. Broos, Mary J. Carter, Barry K. Hancock, Howard E. Huckle, S. D. Hunsberger, Hajime Kawakami, Ronnie Killough, T. Scott Koch, Michael K. McLelland, Kelly Smith, Philip J. Smith, Juan Carlos Soto, Patricia T. Boyd, Alice A. BreeveldStephen T. Holland, Mariya Ivanushkina, Michael S. Pryzby, Martin D. Still, Joseph Stock

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1729 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Ultra-Violet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) is one of three instruments flying aboard the Swift Gamma-ray Observatory. It is designed to capture the early (∼1 min) UV and optical photons from the afterglow of gamma-ray bursts in the 170-600 nm band as well as long term observations of these afterglows. This is accomplished through the use of UV and optical broadband filters and grisms. The UVOT has a modified Ritchey-Chrétien design with micro-channel plate intensified charged-coupled device detectors that record the arrival time of individual photons and provide sub-arcsecond positioning of sources. We discuss some of the science to be pursued by the UVOT and the overall design of the instrument.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)95-142
Number of pages48
JournalSpace Science Reviews
Volume120
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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