The Wide-Field X and Gamma-Ray Telescope ECLAIRs aboard the Gamma-Ray Burst Multi-Wavelength Space Mission SVOM

TL;DR

The ECLAIRs telescope on the SVOM mission is designed to detect and localize gamma-ray bursts with high sensitivity and a wide field of view, enabling rapid follow-up observations across multiple wavelengths.

Contribution

This paper introduces the design and expected capabilities of the ECLAIRs telescope aboard the SVOM satellite, highlighting its wide field of view and sensitivity in the 4-250 keV range.

Findings

Designed to detect highly redshifted GRBs

Provides fast and accurate triggers for follow-up observations

Expected to operate starting in 2013

Abstract

The X and Gamma-ray telescope ECLAIRs is foreseen to be launched on a low Earth orbit (h=630 km, i=30 degrees) aboard the SVOM satellite (Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor), a French-Chinese mission with Italian contribution. Observations are expected to start in 2013. It has been designed to detect and localize Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) or persistent sources of the sky, thanks to its wide field of view (about 2 sr) and its remarkable sensitivity in the 4-250 keV energy range, with enhanced imaging sensitivity in the 4-70 keV energy band. These characteristics are well suited to detect highly redshifted GRBs, and consequently to provide fast and accurate triggers to other onboard or ground-based instruments able to follow-up the detected events in a very short time from the optical wavelength bands up to the few MeV Gamma-Ray domain.