arXiv subjects

A. Foisseau

Publications and source records attributed to A. Foisseau.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Early results from the SVOM Observatory Science program

We present the organisation and early results from the Observatory Science program of the Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM), based on data collected between July 2024 and December 2025. Although primarily designed for gamma-ray burst studies, SVOM's wide-field, multi-wavelength instruments enable a broad range of high-energy astrophysical investigations. We summarize the execution and performance of the General Program and Target-of-Opportunity observations, and we describe the frameworks used for serendipitous source detection and monitoring with the ECLAIRs coded-mask instrument. Over this period, SVOM carried out more than a thousand pointed observations and detected several hundred non-GRB high-energy sources, mainly X-ray binaries, as well as blazars, stellar flares, magnetars, and unidentified events. We highlight some key results, including the monitoring of the microquasar Cygnus X-1, the detection of burst oscillations from the Low-Mass X-ray Binary 4U 0614+091, the spectral-state monitoring of Aql X-1, the first SVOM detection of an X-ray blazar flare from 1ES 1959+650, and observations of a stellar flare from HD 22468. These results demonstrate SVOM's strong capabilities for time-domain astrophysics beyond its core GRB program.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

ECLAIRs: the SVOM high-energy transient trigger camera

The core instrument of the SVOM Gamma-ray burst mission launched in June 2024 is the 4-150 keV 2-D coded mask camera ECLAIRs responsible for the autonomous trigger and localization of transient events within its field of view. The flight model of ECLAIRs has been built by several French labs (IRAP, CEA, APC) under the supervision of the French Space Agency (CNES), while APC, LUPM and IAP built a suite of data reduction and analysis software. This paper outlines the main science goals of ECLAIRs and describes the different instrument sub-systems and their main characteristics. The paper then discusses the instrument configuration and operation as well as the main in-flight measured performances. Finally, the paper summarizes the science performance of ECLAIRs up to March 31, 2025.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

The SVOM / ECLAIRs Scientific Analysis Pipeline

This paper reports on the scientific pipeline for the analysis of the ECLAIRs data of the SVOM mission. We describe the overall procedure, the different steps and the main algorithms of the data analysis for this hard X-ray coded mask instrument. The pipeline runs in automatic mode at the science center generating standard products but can also be used off-line with specific choices of parameters. Generated data products and preliminary performances are illustrated along with perspectives for future improvements.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

SVOM discovery of a strong X-ray outburst of the blazar 1ES~1959+650 and multi-wavelength follow-up with the Neil Gehrels Swift observatory

On December 6, 2024, 1ES 1959+650, one of the X-ray brightest blazars known, underwent a high-amplitude X-ray outburst detected by SVOM, the first such discovery with this mission. The source was subsequently monitored with SVOM and Swift from December 2024 to March 2025. We report the detection and multi-wavelength follow-up of this event, and describe the temporal and spectral evolution observed during the campaign. Data from SVOM/MXT, SVOM/ECLAIRs, and Swift/XRT were analyzed with log-parabola models to track flux and spectral variability. The source was detected in a bright state over the 0.3-50 keV range. During the three months of monitoring, the X-ray flux varied significantly, showing episodes of spectral hardening at high flux levels. The spectral curvature evolved more irregularly and did not show a clear trend with flux. A shift of the Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) synchrotron peak to higher energies is seen when the flux increases. This constitutes the first blazar outburst discovered in X-rays by SVOM. The coordinated follow-up with Swift provided continuous coverage of the flare and highlights the strong complementarity of the two missions for time-domain studies of blazars. The flare shows no clear signatures of either Fermi I or Fermi II acceleration, suggesting a mixed Fermi I/II scenario.

astro-ph.HE↗