A program to search for transient microwave emission from GRBs and other high-energy sources using archival WMAP datasets

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-1-2007

Abstract

We report on a new program to search the public time-ordered datasets acquired with the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) for transient signals associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and other high-energy sources. This program is an extension of earlier work in which we established the first limits [1] on prompt microwave emission from GRBs using archival datasets from the Differential Microwave Radiometers (DMR) aboard the COBE satellite. The increased sensitivity and angular resolution of the WMAP radiometers compared to the COBE/DMR lead to a factor of ∼10,000 improvement in overall point-source sensitivity. Such limits approach the signal levels predicted in the microwave band for the peak prompt emission arising from reverse shocks in GRBs [2]. In the first phase of our program we are verifying our analysis software and assessing sensitivity limits by searching for microwave transients or flaring signals from known blazars and similar sources that are detected in the cumulative WMAP data as "foreground" point sources of microwave emission. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

AIP Conference Proceedings

First Page

474

Last Page

475

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