BREAKFAST : A Framework for General Joint Burst Advocate Duty and Follow-up Guidance of Multiple Gamma-Ray Monitors
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: With the growing number of gamma-ray monitors in operation, several research teams have adopted a strategy of joint operation and scientific duty to improve efficiency. A successful example is the GECAM–HXMT–SVOM (GHS) constellation collaboration, which sets a precedent for other gamma-ray monitor constellations. However, joint duty also presents challenges to burst advocates (BAs), including an increased number of triggers and, more importantly, frequent switching between various systems due to incompatibilities among different missions, which complicates the situation. To address the current requirements of multiwavelength and multimessenger astronomy, we developed a customized framework for unified trigger processing within the GHS joint duty, named “BAs’ Rapid Evaluation and Analysis Kit for Formulating Alerts and Summary Tools” ( BREAKFAST ). This framework incorporates a series of automated, semiautomated, and manual pipelines designed to rapidly process triggers of prompt emissions in the gamma-ray band from different instruments, while maintaining flexible compatibility for future missions. The pursuit of BREAKFAST goes beyond merely providing trigger processing for BAs. BREAKFAST also aims to identify high-value targets through rapid analysis and to guide follow-up telescopes by providing timely reports, thereby serving as an important bridge between prompt-emission observations and afterglow observations. To this end, a suite of comprehensive analysis modules is included in BREAKFAST , particularly the specially designed module that predicts X-ray afterglow brightness based on prompt-emission properties. The framework’s effectiveness has already been demonstrated in recent observational campaigns, and it is expected to play a significant role in the discovery and observation of peculiar transients in the future.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Authors: Chen-Wei Wang, Peng Zhang, Shao-Lin Xiong, Yue Huang, Wen-Jun Tan, Zheng-Hang Yu, Yue Wang, Wang-Chen Xue, Chao Zheng, Hao-Xuan Guo, Ce Cai, Yong-Wei Dong, Jiang He, Cheng-Kui Li, Xiao-Bo Li, Jia-Cong Liu, Xing-Hao Luo, Xiang Ma, Rahim Moradi, Yang-Zhao Ren, Li-Ming Song, Ping Wang, Jin Wang, Bo-Bing Wu, Shuo Xiao, Sheng-Lun Xie, Shu-Xu Yi, Xue-Yuan Zao, Xiao-Yun Zhao, Li Zhang, Shuang-Nan Zhang, Yan-Qiu Zhang, Shi-Jie Zheng
Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Energy Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tongji University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hebei Normal University, Beijing Normal University, Southwest Jiaotong University, Guizhou Normal University, Central China Normal University
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Funders: University of Leicester, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Institute of High Energy Physics, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
OpenAlex ID: W7126205459