Burst Detector Sensitivity: Past, Present and Future

Journal Article · Fri May 19 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2207982· OSTI ID:20798709

Band, David L ^[1]

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1. Code 661, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (United States)

I compare the burst detection sensitivity of CGRO's BATSE, Swift's BAT, the GLAST Burst Monitor (GBM) and EXIST as a function of a burst's spectrum and duration. A detector's overall burst sensitivity depends on its energy sensitivity and set of accumulations times {delta}t; these two factors shape the detected burst population. For example, relative to BATSE, the BAT's softer energy band decreases the detection rate of short, hard bursts, while the BAT's longer accumulation times increase the detection rate of long, soft bursts. Consequently, Swift is detecting long, low fluence bursts (2-3x fainter than BATSE)

• OSTI ID: 20798709
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 836, Issue 1; Conference: 16. Maryland astrophysics conference, Washington, DC (United States), 29 Nov - 2 Dec 2005; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2207982; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
COSMIC PHOTONS
COSMIC RAY DETECTION
ENERGY SPECTRA
GAMMA DETECTION
MONITORS
SENSITIVITY
TELESCOPE COUNTERS