Learning Transient Universe in Near-ultraviolet by Wide-angle Cameras

Abstract

We perform a detailed analysis and simulations on the transient detection capability in the near-ultraviolet (NUV) band by focusing on some major local transient events. These events include the tidal disruption event due to a supermassive black hole, the shock breakout of a core-collapse supernova and the flare of a late-type star. Our simulations show that a set of small, wide-angle NUV cameras can allow us to detect and study numerous galactic and extragalactic transient events. Based on the analysis and simulations, here we propose a space-based NUV sky patrol mission by updating the proposal that was originally submitted to the Chinese Space Station mission in 2011. The mission proposed here is composed of a set of eight small wide-field NUV cameras each with a diameter of 20 cm. The total sky area simultaneously covered by the NUV cameras is as large as . The survey cadence ranges from 30 to 300 s. The transient events are required to be detected by a dedicated onboard software in real time.