Optimisation of the SVOM satellite strategy for the rapid follow-up of gravitational wave events

TL;DR

This paper presents an optimized strategy for the SVOM satellite to rapidly follow up on gravitational wave events, enhancing the chances of electromagnetic counterpart detection through galaxy catalog integration and platform-specific constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a novel optimized follow-up strategy for SVOM, incorporating galaxy catalogs and platform constraints to improve gravitational wave counterpart detection.

Findings

Optimized observation plan increases detection probability.

Galaxy catalog integration improves follow-up efficiency.

Quantitative analysis demonstrates strategy effectiveness.

Abstract

The SVOM satellite, to be launched in early 2024, is primarily devoted to the multi-wavelength observation of gamma-ray bursts and other higher-energy transients. Thanks to its onboard Microchannel X-ray Telescope and Visible-band Telescope, it is also very well adapted to the electromagnetic follow-up of gravitational wave events. We discuss the SVOM rapid follow-up strategy for gravitational wave trigger candidates provided by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA. In particular, we make use of recent developments of galaxy catalogs adapted to the horizon of gravitational wave detectors to optimise the chance of counterpart discovery. We also take into account constraints specific to the SVOM platform. Finally, we implement the production of the SVOM observation plan following a gravitational wave alert and quantify the efficiency of several optimisations introduced in this work.