Bibcode
Pizzichini, G.; Ferrero, P.; Gianotti, F.; Morelli, E.; HETE Science Team
Referencia bibliográfica
Memorie della Società Astronomica Italiana Supplement, v.5, p.166 (2004)
Fecha de publicación:
0
2004
Número de citas
0
Número de citas referidas
0
Descripción
HETE-2 (High Energy Transient Explorer) is a small scientific satellite
whose main task is to detect Gamma-Ray Bursts, promptly determine their
coordinates, when possible, and distribute them immediately to the
scientific community. HETE-2 has detected many of the most interesting
events in recent years: GRB030329, which confirmed beyond any doubt the
Gamma-Ray Burst - Supernova connection; GRB021211, also connected to a
SN, in this case at high redshift; and other well observed and studied
bursts, for example GRB021004 and GRB030226. The prompt localization by
HETE-2 of a "short" GRB allowed the first detection of an X-ray
afterglow for this class of events. The energy range of the HETE-2
detectors, which starts at a few keVs, has allowed extension of the
study of spectral and global properties of "classical" GRBs to the
softer X Ray Flashes and X-Ray Rich events and the first redshift
determination for a X-Ray Flash. HETE-2 has detected also hundreds of
X-ray bursts and events from Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters; in some cases it
was the first experiment to find that one of those sources had entered a
new active phase.