SVOM/VT: Instrument Overview, Science Objectives, and First-Year Performance
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866911625978576896 |
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| author | Qiu, Yu-Lei Xin, Li-Ping Deng, Jin-Song Zhang, Jian Fan, Xue-Wu Cai, Hong-Bo Wu, Chao Li, Hua-Li Su, Rui-Feng Mao, Qing-Yun Gao, Wei Zou, Gang-Yi Wang, Wei Yao, Zhu-Heng Li, Dong Chen, Kun Chen, Wen Zhang, Yong-He Han, Xu-Hui Wang, Jing Xu, Da-Wei Palmerio, Jesse T. Vergani, Susanna. D. Wei, Jian-Yan Cordier, Bertrand |
| author_facet | Qiu, Yu-Lei Xin, Li-Ping Deng, Jin-Song Zhang, Jian Fan, Xue-Wu Cai, Hong-Bo Wu, Chao Li, Hua-Li Su, Rui-Feng Mao, Qing-Yun Gao, Wei Zou, Gang-Yi Wang, Wei Yao, Zhu-Heng Li, Dong Chen, Kun Chen, Wen Zhang, Yong-He Han, Xu-Hui Wang, Jing Xu, Da-Wei Palmerio, Jesse T. Vergani, Susanna. D. Wei, Jian-Yan Cordier, Bertrand |
| contents | The 44-cm Visible Telescope (VT) aboard the Space-based Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) is a dual-band (400-650 nm and 650-1000 nm) instrument designed to detect and characterize the optical counterparts of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and other high-energy transients. This paper presents the VT's design, scientific objectives, observing strategies, and both space- and ground-based data processing pipelines, along with its first-year in-orbit performance. In-orbit commissioning tests confirm a sensitivity of 22.5 AB mag (300 s exposure), extendable to $\sim\!24$ AB mag through stacking. This performance enables the VT to monitor over 100 GRBs in its first year with an exceptional $\sim\!80\%$ detection rate for \textit{SVOM}/ECLAIRS-triggered bursts and ToO-observed bursts from other missions (e.g., \textit{Swift, Fermi, Einstein Probe (EP)}), outperforming \textit{Swift}/UVOT's $\sim\!40\%$ detection rate. Beyond its exceptional detection efficiency, the VT played a key role in identifying high-redshift GRBs-most notably GRB 250314A (z = 7.3). Its deep upper limits at long wavelengths (up to 1 $μ$m) were pivotal in guiding follow-up observations with large ground-based telescopes, enabling crucial near-infrared (NIR) detections. With its rapid response, deep sensitivity, and real-time processing capabilities, the VT is a key instrument for GRB research in \textit{SVOM}-era, enabling critical studies of GRB optical afterglows, circumburst environments, relativistic jet dynamics, and the origins of optically dark bursts. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_24248 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | SVOM/VT: Instrument Overview, Science Objectives, and First-Year Performance Qiu, Yu-Lei Xin, Li-Ping Deng, Jin-Song Zhang, Jian Fan, Xue-Wu Cai, Hong-Bo Wu, Chao Li, Hua-Li Su, Rui-Feng Mao, Qing-Yun Gao, Wei Zou, Gang-Yi Wang, Wei Yao, Zhu-Heng Li, Dong Chen, Kun Chen, Wen Zhang, Yong-He Han, Xu-Hui Wang, Jing Xu, Da-Wei Palmerio, Jesse T. Vergani, Susanna. D. Wei, Jian-Yan Cordier, Bertrand High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics The 44-cm Visible Telescope (VT) aboard the Space-based Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) is a dual-band (400-650 nm and 650-1000 nm) instrument designed to detect and characterize the optical counterparts of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and other high-energy transients. This paper presents the VT's design, scientific objectives, observing strategies, and both space- and ground-based data processing pipelines, along with its first-year in-orbit performance. In-orbit commissioning tests confirm a sensitivity of 22.5 AB mag (300 s exposure), extendable to $\sim\!24$ AB mag through stacking. This performance enables the VT to monitor over 100 GRBs in its first year with an exceptional $\sim\!80\%$ detection rate for \textit{SVOM}/ECLAIRS-triggered bursts and ToO-observed bursts from other missions (e.g., \textit{Swift, Fermi, Einstein Probe (EP)}), outperforming \textit{Swift}/UVOT's $\sim\!40\%$ detection rate. Beyond its exceptional detection efficiency, the VT played a key role in identifying high-redshift GRBs-most notably GRB 250314A (z = 7.3). Its deep upper limits at long wavelengths (up to 1 $μ$m) were pivotal in guiding follow-up observations with large ground-based telescopes, enabling crucial near-infrared (NIR) detections. With its rapid response, deep sensitivity, and real-time processing capabilities, the VT is a key instrument for GRB research in \textit{SVOM}-era, enabling critical studies of GRB optical afterglows, circumburst environments, relativistic jet dynamics, and the origins of optically dark bursts. |
| title | SVOM/VT: Instrument Overview, Science Objectives, and First-Year Performance |
| topic | High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.24248 |