Implementation of the readout system in the UFFO Slewing Mirror Telescope

TL;DR

This paper details the design and implementation of the readout electronics for the Slewing Mirror Telescope in the UFFO space observatory, enabling rapid UV/optical observations of Gamma-Ray Bursts.

Contribution

It introduces the specific readout system developed for the SMT, enhancing rapid data acquisition in space-based GRB observations.

Findings

Successful implementation of the readout electronics system.

Rapid data acquisition within one second of GRB trigger.

Enhanced capability for UV/optical GRB observation.

Abstract

The Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) is a new space-based experiment to observe Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). GRBs are the most luminous electromagnetic events in the universe and occur randomly in any direction. Therefore the UFFO consists of two telescopes; UFFO Burst Alert & Trigger Telescope (UBAT) to detect GRBs using a wide field-of-view (FOV), and a Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT) to observe UV/optical events rapidly within the narrow, targeted FOV. The SMT is a Ritchey-Chretien telescope that uses a motorized mirror system and an Intensified Charge-Coupled Device (ICCD). When the GRB is triggered by the UBAT, the SMT receives the position information and rapidly tilts the mirror to the target. The ICCD start to take the data within a second after GRB is triggered. Here we give the details about the SMT readout electronics that deliver the data.