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Below is a list of frequently asked questions, either about HETE, GRB science, or the contents of this web site.
What is a gamma-ray burst?
A gamma-ray burst (GRB) is a cosmic explosion with a total (isotropic) energy
of 1053-1054 ergs!
Such explosions, if indeed they are isotropic, are
100-1000 times as energetic as a supernova outburst.
At the distances to which GRBs have been measured (z = 3.5),
they are excellent "beacons" for tracing the structure of the early universe.
Estimates by Lamb and Riechert indicate that HETE-2 has sufficient
sensitivity to GRBs as distant as z = 10-20.
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How does coded aperture imaging work?
An excellent set of papers on the subject can be found
here.
Coded aperture imaging measures the shift of the mask pattern in the
shadow created by the mask.
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Where is HETE pointing now?
HETE is almost always pointing in the anti-solar direction. To
see where HETE is pointing in the sky, look
here.
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Is there a list of acronyms?
There sure is! Look here.
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