The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO): prototype performance and prospects for transient science-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO): prototype performance and prospects for transient science

Published:2022-01-12 Issue:2 Volume:511 Page:2405-2422
ISSN:0035-8711
Container-title:Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
language:en
Short-container-title:

Author:

Steeghs D¹²^ORCID,Galloway D K²³,Ackley K¹²³,Dyer M J⁴^ORCID,Lyman J¹^ORCID,Ulaczyk K¹,Cutter R¹^ORCID,Mong Y-L²³,Dhillon V⁴⁵^ORCID,O’Brien P⁶,Ramsay G⁷,Poshyachinda S⁸,Kotak R⁹,Nuttall L K¹⁰,Pallé E⁵¹¹,Breton R P¹²^ORCID,Pollacco D¹,Thrane E³,Aukkaravittayapun S⁸,Awiphan S⁸,Burhanudin U⁴,Chote P¹,Chrimes A¹,Daw E⁴,Duffy C¹⁷^ORCID,Eyles-Ferris R⁶,Gompertz B¹^ORCID,Heikkilä T⁹,Irawati P⁸,Kennedy M R¹²^ORCID,Killestein T¹^ORCID,Kuncarayakti H¹³¹⁴,Levan A J¹¹¹,Littlefair S⁴,Makrygianni L⁴,Marsh T¹^ORCID,Mata-Sanchez D⁵¹²¹⁵,Mattila S⁹,Maund J⁴^ORCID,McCormac J¹,Mkrtichian D⁸,Mullaney J⁴,Noysena K⁸,Patel M⁶,Rol E³,Sawangwit U⁸^ORCID,Stanway E R¹^ORCID,Starling R⁶,Strøm P¹,Tooke S⁶,West R¹^ORCID,White D J¹⁶,Wiersema K¹

Affiliation:

1. Department of Physics, University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

2. OzGrav: The ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery , Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia

3. School of Physics & Astronomy, Monash University , Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia

4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield , Sheffield S3 7RH, UK

5. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias , E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

6. School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester , University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK

7. Armagh Observatory & Planetarium , College Hill, Armagh BT61 9DG UK

8. National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand , 260 Moo 4, T. Donkaew, A. Maerim, Chiangmai 50180, Thailand

9. Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Turku , Vesilinnantie 5, Turku FI-20014, Finland

10. Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation, University of Portsmouth , Portsmouth PO1 3FX, UK

11. Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen , P.O. Box 9010, NL-6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands

12. Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL, UK

13. Tuorla Observatory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku , FI-20014 Turku, Finland

14. Finnish Centre for Astronomy with ESO (FINCA), University of Turku , FI-20014 Turku, Finland

15. Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna , E-38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

16. EPCC, University of Edinburgh , Bayes Centre, 47 Potterrow, Edinburgh EH8 9BT, UK

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) is an array of wide-field optical telescopes, designed to exploit new discoveries from the next generation of gravitational wave detectors (LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA), study rapidly evolving transients, and exploit multimessenger opportunities arising from neutrino and very high energy gamma-ray triggers. In addition to a rapid response mode, the array will also perform a sensitive, all-sky transient survey with few day cadence. The facility features a novel, modular design with multiple 40-cm wide-field reflectors on a single mount. In 2017 June, the GOTO collaboration deployed the initial project prototype, with 4 telescope units, at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM), La Palma, Canary Islands. Here, we describe the deployment, commissioning, and performance of the prototype hardware, and discuss the impact of these findings on the final GOTO design. We also offer an initial assessment of the science prospects for the full GOTO facility that employs 32 telescope units across two sites.

Funder

University of Warwick

Monash University

University of Sheffield

University of Leicester

Armagh Observatory

IAC

University of Portsmouth

University of Turku

University of Manchester

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Australian Research Council