Swift observations of gamma-ray bursts recently highlighted the existence ofrare high-energy transients, characterized by extremely long durations (fromhours to days). The origin of these enigmatic events, dubbed ultralong GRBs,remains uncertain with the prime model being the collapse of a low-metallicityBlue Supergiant star. In this scenario ultralong GRBs could represent the localanalogues of pop III GRBs, thus providing a nearby laboratory to investigateprimordial star explosions. Here we propose a ToO program to observe a newlydiscovered ultralong GRB. The requested X-ray observations will be complementedby an extensive follow-up campaign through our on-going radio, optical, and IRprograms.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2017-07-18T17:44:27Z/2017-07-20T09:03:45Z
Version
PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Luigi Piro, 2018, 'Ultralong GRBs: a nearby laboratory for PopIII openPar-likeclosePar star explosions', PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-vafgfdz
