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GW170817: Swift UV detection of a blue kilonova, and improving the search in O3

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2019

Aaron Tohuvavohu Open the ORCID record for Aaron Tohuvavohu [Opens in a new window] ,
Jamie A. Kennea  and
the Swift gravitational wave follow-up group
Aaron Tohuvavohu
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA email: [email protected]
Jamie A. Kennea
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA email: [email protected]
the <span class='italic'>Swift</span> gravitational wave follow-up group
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA email: [email protected] Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA email: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

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Swift’s rapid slewing, flexible planning, and multi-wavelength instruments make it the most capable space-based follow-up engine for finding poorly localized sources. During O1 and O2 Swift successfully tiled hundreds of square-degrees of sky in the LVC localization regions, searching for, and identifying, possible X-ray and UV/O transients in the field. Swift made important contributions to the discovery and characterization of the kilonova AT 2017gfo, discovering the UV emission and providing the deepest X-ray upper limits in the first 24 hours after the trigger, strongly constraining the dynamics and geometry of the counterpart. Swift tiled 92% of the galaxy convolved error region down to average X-ray flux sensitivities of 10−12 erg cm−2 s−1, significantly increasing our confidence that AT 2017gfo is indeed the counterpart to GW 170817 and sGRB 170817. However, there remains significant room for improvement of Swift’s follow-up in preparation for O3. This will take the form of both revised observation strategy based on detailed analysis of the results from O2, and significant changes to Swift’s operational capabilities. These improvements are necessary both for maximizing the likelihood that Swift finds a counterpart, and minimizing the impact that follow-up activities have on other Swift science priorities. We outline areas of improvement to the observing strategy itself for optimal tiling of the LVC localization regions. We also discuss ongoing work on operational upgrades that will decrease latency in our response time, and minimize impact on pre-planned observations, while maintaining spacecraft health and safety.

Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 13 , Symposium S338: Gravitational Wave Astrophysics: Early Results from Gravitational Wave Searches and Electromagnetic Counterparts , October 2017 , pp. 53 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2019 

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