SVOM/VT: Real-Time Onboard Data Processing
Abstract
The SVOM Visible Telescope (VT) is critical for the rapid identification of gamma-ray burst (GRB) optical counterparts, particularly for high-redshift candidates that require immediate infrared spectroscopic follow-up. To address the stringent bandwidth constraints of the VHF downlink while ensuring real-time data availability, we developed the VT Onboard Data Processing Pipeline (VOPP).This paper details the software architecture, algorithms, and hardware implementation of VOPP using an FPGA and a CPU. The pipeline performs essential real-time tasks, including image quality assessment, dark and flat-field correction, and optimized image stacking to mitigate cosmic ray contamination and variable background noise. Furthermore, it generates compact source catalogs and highly compressed 1-bit images to facilitate rapid downlink.In-flight performance analysis confirms the pipeline's robustness, demonstrating the availability of VT VHF data for 78 percent of promptly slewed SVOM GRBs, with 56 percent leading to the identification of optical counterparts, typically within 18 minutes post-trigger.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2604.24269,
title = {SVOM/VT: Real-Time Onboard Data Processing},
author = {Hong-Bo Cai and Yu-Lei Qiu and Li-Ping Xin and Zheng-Yang Bian and Rui-Feng Su and Qing-Yun Mao and Bin-Ping Su and Jun-Wang He and Wei Gao and Jian Zhang and Li-Jun Dan and Kun Chen and Dong Li and Chao Wu and Hua-Li Li and Jin-Song Deng and Yong-He Zhang and Jian-Yan Wei and Bertrand Cordier},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.24269},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
Accepted for publication in the SVOM special issue in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics: 15 pages, 6 figures