Telescope Acquiring Transients Extremely Rapidly (TATER)

A Rapid Response Telescope (RRT) for Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) Acquisition

Investigators:

Dr. Elisa H. Barney Smith

Dr. John Gardner

Dr. Daryl Macomb

Dr. Scott Smith

Abstract

The study of gamma-ray bursts (GRB) is one of the most important research topics in astrophysics today. GRBs are the most luminous objects in the universe, far more luminous than quasars or supernovae, by a factor of about 10⁹, with spectra that extend from gamma rays to radio wavelengths. Despite their tremendous brightness, basic questions about the nature and types of GRB sources remain unanswered.

Answers to some of the questions about GRBs lie in the optical afterglows of the GRB. These are only available for a short time, so a telescope must be alerted to the GRB onset and slewed to the proper position in the sky all in a few seconds. We are conducting research on the design and development of a telescope optimized for this science. This work was started under a NASA Idaho EPSCoR/ISGC grant in spring of 2000, and has continued to be funded under 2 successive grants from the same source. The research focuses on the design, automation and testing of a telescope on the Boise State University campus. This will provide us with experience with a scope which is actually responding to GRB alerts and allow us to measure and document rapid reaction response times.

We are working to find a home for our specially equipped telescope where we can conduct the final stages of development and testing, and eventually leave it to detect GRBs. When the telescope is not busy detecting GRBs, it will be available do other observing tasks.

The Project:

Boise State University | BSU College of Engineering