ROTSE-III performance in the Swift era

Authors

S. A. Yost, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
E. S. Rykoff, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
F. Aharonian, Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
C. W. Akerlof, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
M. C.B. Ashley, UNSW Sydney
S. Barthelmy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
N. Gehrels, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
E. Göǧüş, Sabancı Üniversitesi
T. Güver, Sabancı Üniversitesi
D. Horns, Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
Ü Kiziloǧlu, Middle East Technical University (METU)
H. A. Krimm, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
T. A. McKay, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
N. Mirabal, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
M. Özel, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi
A. Phillips, UNSW Sydney
R. M. Quimby, The University of Texas at Austin
G. Rowell, Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
W. Rujopakarn, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
B. E. Schaefer, Louisiana State University
D. A. Smith, Guilford College
H. F. Swan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
W. T. Vestrand, Los Alamos National Laboratory
J. C. Wheeler, The University of Texas at Austin
J. Wren, Los Alamos National Laboratory
F. Yuan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-19-2006

Abstract

We report the successful performance of the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE) to promptly-disseminated Swift GRB triggers. ROTSE-III is a worldwide network of 4 unfiltered 0.45m optical telescopes. The telescopes operate robotically, automatically responding to GRB position triggers with a preset observations sequence. Including weather and other downtime, ROTSE-III can immediately respond to ∼40% of Swift trigger positions, with shutter open within approximately 6-8 seconds from the trigger dissemination. We discuss improvements made possible in the automated response the the small, accurate Swift error boxes. We report ROTSE-III's general results, including OTs discovered or confirmed, the distribution of imaging start times relative to the GRB duration, and an overview of OT lightcurves. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

AIP Conference Proceedings

First Page

349

Last Page

352

Recommended Citation

Yost, S., Rykoff, E., Aharonian, F., Akerlof, C., Ashley, M., Barthelmy, S., Gehrels, N., Göǧüş, E., Güver, T., Horns, D., Kiziloǧlu, Ü., Krimm, H., McKay, T., Mirabal, N., Özel, M., Phillips, A., Quimby, R., Rowell, G., Rujopakarn, W., Schaefer, B., Smith, D., Swan, H., Vestrand, W., Wheeler, J., Wren, J., & Yuan, F. (2006). ROTSE-III performance in the Swift era. AIP Conference Proceedings, 836, 349-352. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2207919