The locations of gamma-ray bursts measured by COMPTEL

Academic Article

Abstract

  • The COMPTEL instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory is used to measure the locations of gamma-ray bursts through direct imaging of MeV photons. In a comprehensive search, we have detected and localized 29 bursts observed between 1991 April 19 and 1995 May 31. The average location accuracy of these events is 1.25$\arcdeg$ (1$\sigma$), including a systematic error of $\sim0.5\arcdeg$, which is verified through comparison with Interplanetary Network (IPN) timing annuli. The combination of COMPTEL and IPN measurements results in locations for 26 of the bursts with an average ``error box'' area of only $\sim$0.3 deg$^2$ (1$\sigma$). We find that the angular distribution of COMPTEL burst locations is consistent with large-scale isotropy and that there is no statistically significant evidence of small-angle auto-correlations. We conclude that there is no compelling evidence for burst repetition since no more than two of the events (or $\sim$7% of the 29 bursts) could possibly have come from the same source. We also find that there is no significant correlation between the burst locations and either Abell clusters of galaxies or radio-quiet quasars. Agreement between individual COMPTEL locations and IPN annuli places a lower limit of $\sim$100~AU (95% confidence) on the distance to the stronger bursts.
  • Authors

  • Kippen, RM
  • Ryan, JM
  • Connors, A
  • Hartmann, DH
  • Winkler, C
  • Kuiper, L
  • Varendorff, M
  • McConnell, Mark
  • Hurley, K
  • Hermsen, W
  • Schonfelder, V
  • Status

    Publication Date

  • January 1, 1998
  • Has Subject Area

    Keywords

  • gamma rays, bursts
  • gamma rays, observations
  • methods, numerical
  • methods, statistical
  • Digital Object Identifier (doi)

    Start Page

  • 246
  • End Page

  • 262
  • Volume

  • 492
  • Issue

  • 1