Design and in-orbit performance of the Suzaku Wide-band All-sky monitor

Abstract

The Suzaku Wide-band All-sky Monitor (WAM) consists of thick BGO anti-coincidence shields of the Hard X-ray Detectors (HXD). It views about half of the sky and has a geometrical area of 800 cm2 per side and an effective area of 400 cm2, even at 1 MeV. Hence, the WAM can provide unique opportunities to detect high-energy emission from GRBs and solar flares in the sub-MeV to MeV range. The WAM has detected more than 400 GRBs and 100 solar flares since its launch. This paper describes the in-flight performance of the HXD/WAM during the initial two years of operations, including the in-flight energy response, spectral and timing capabilities, and in-orbit background. © 2009. Astronomical Society of Japan.