BATSE gamma-ray burst line search. I. Search for narrow lines in spectroscopy detector data

Authors

David M. Palmer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Bonnard J. Teegarden, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Bradley E. Schaefer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Thomas L. Cline, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
David L. Band, University of California, San Diego
Lyle A. Ford, University of California, San Diego
James L. Matteson, University of California, San Diego
William S. Paciesas, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Geoffrey N. Pendleton, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Michael S. Briggs, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Robert D. Preece, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Gerald J. Fishman, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Charles A. Meegan, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Robert B. Wilson, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
J. Patrick Lestrade, Mississippi State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-1994

Abstract

Analysis of data from the Spectroscopy Detectors (SDs) of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) has found no convincing line features in the spectra of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in almost 3 years of operation, in contrast to expectations based on results from other experiments. In this Letter we discuss the visual search for narrow lines in the SD data. The search has examined 192 bursts, of which ∼18 were intense enough that lines similar to those seen by instruments on the Ginga satellite would have been visible between ∼20 and ∼100 keV. A simplified calculation shows that the BATSE and Ginga results are consistent at the 13% level.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Astrophysical Journal

Recommended Citation

Palmer, D., Teegarden, B., Schaefer, B., Cline, T., Band, D., Ford, L., Matteson, J., Paciesas, W., Pendleton, G., Briggs, M., Preece, R., Fishman, G., Meegan, C., Wilson, R., & Lestrade, J. (1994). BATSE gamma-ray burst line search. I. Search for narrow lines in spectroscopy detector data. Astrophysical Journal, 433 (2 PART 2) https://doi.org/10.1086/187552