Prompt Detection of Fast Optical Bursts with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Journal Article · Wed Jun 07 00:00:00 UTC 2023 · The Astrophysical Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/accb93 · OSTI ID:1984149

Megias Homar, Guillem ; Meyers, Joshua M. ; Kahn, Steven M.

Abstract The transient optical sky has remained largely unexplored on very short timescales. While there have been some experiments searching for optical transients from minutes to years, none have had the capability to distinguish millisecond fast optical bursts (FOBs). Such very fast transients could be the optical counterparts of fast radio bursts, the prompt emission from γ -ray bursts, or other previously unknown phenomena. Here, we investigate a novel approach to the serendipitous detection of FOBs, which relies on searching for anomalous spatial images. In particular, due to their short duration, the seeing-distorted images of FOBs should look characteristically different than those of steady sources in a standard optical exposure of finite duration. We apply this idea to simulated observations with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, produced by tracing individual photons through a turbulent atmosphere, and down through the optics and camera of the Rubin telescope. We compare these simulated images to steady-source star simulations in 15 s integrations, the nominal Rubin exposure time. We report the classification accuracy results of a neural network classifier for distinguishing FOBs from steady sources. From this classifier, we derive constraints in duration–intensity parameter space for unambiguously identifying FOBs in Rubin observations. We conclude with estimates of the total number of detections of FOB counterparts to FRBs expected during the 10 yr Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA); Brinson Foundation; Moore Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; la Caixa Foundation
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 1984149
• Journal Information: The Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: The Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 950; ISSN 0004-637X
• Publisher: American Astronomical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English