Simulations of GRB detections with the ECLAIRs telescope onboard the future SVOM mission

TL;DR

This study uses simulations to evaluate the detection efficiency of the ECLAIRs telescope's trigger algorithms onboard the SVOM satellite for gamma-ray bursts, based on a GRB database derived from Fermi GBM data.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation framework for assessing ECLAIRs' GRB detection capabilities using a new GRB database and trigger algorithms.

Findings

Trigger algorithms show promising detection efficiency.

Simulations highlight the impact of GRB properties on detection success.

First results validate the simulation approach.

Abstract

The soft gamma-ray telescope ECLAIRs with its Scientific Trigger Unit is in charge of detecting Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) on-board the future SVOM satellite. Using the "scientific software model" (SSM), we study the efficiency of both implemented trigger algorithms, the Count-Rate Trigger for time-scales below 20s and the Image Trigger for larger ones. The SMM provides a simulation of ECLAIRs with photon projection through the coded-mask onto the detection plane. We developed an input GRB database for the SSM based on GRBs light curves detected by the Fermi GBM instrument. We extrapolated the GRB spectra into the ECLAIRs band (4-120 keV) and projected them onto the detection plane, superimposed with cosmic extragalactic background photons (CXB). Several simulations were performed by varying the GRB properties (fluxes and positions in the field of view). We present first results of this study in this paper.