Burst And Transient Source Experiment Research Articles

The Intensity Distribution of Faint Gamma‐Ray Bursts Detected with BATSE

We have recently completed a search of six years of archival Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) data for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that were too faint to activate the real-time burst detection system running on board the spacecraft. These 'nontriggered' bursts can be combined with the 'triggered' bursts detected on board to produce a GRB intensity distribution that reaches peak fluxes a factor of approximately two lower than could be studied previously. The value of the statistic (in Euclidean space) for the bursts we detect is 0.177 +/- 0.006. This surprisingly low value is obtained because we detected very few bursts on the 4.096 s and 8.192 s timescales (where most bursts have their highest signal-to-noise ratio) that were not already detected on the 1.024 s timescale. If allowance is made for a power-law distribution of intrinsic peak luminosities, the extended peak flux distribution is consistent with models in which the redshift distribution of the gamma-ray burst rate approximately traces the star formation history of the universe. We argue that this class of models is preferred over those in which the burst rate is independent of redshift. We use the peak flux distribution to derive a limit of 10% (99% confidence) on the fraction of the total burst rate that could be contributed by a spatially homogeneous (in Euclidean space) subpopulation of burst sources, such as type Ib/c supernovae. These results lend support to the conclusions of previous studies predicting that relatively few faint 'classical' GRBs will be found below the BATSE onboard detection threshold.

Short-term pulse frequency fluctuations of OAO 1657-415 from RXTE observations

We present new X-ray observations of the high mass X-ray binary (HMXRB) pulsar OAO 1657-415, obtained during one orbital period (10.44 days) with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). Using the binary orbital parameters, obtained from Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) observations, we resolve the fluctuations in the pulse frequency at time scales on the order of one day for the first time. Recent BATSE results showed that OAO 1657-415 has spin-up/down trends in its pulse frequency time series, without any correlation with the X-luminosity at energies $>$20 keV (Baykal 1997). In the present RXTE observations the source is found to be in an extended phase of spin-down. We also find a gradual increase in the X-ray luminosity which is correlated with a marginal spin-up episode. The marginal correlation between the gradual spin-up (or decrease in spin-down rate) and increase in X-ray luminosity suggests that the OAO 1657-415 is observed during a stable accretion episode where the prograde accretion disk is formed.

The BATSE Gamma‐Ray Burst Spectral Catalog. I. High Time Resolution Spectroscopy of Bright Bursts Using High Energy Resolution Data

This is the first in a series of gamma-ray burst spectroscopy catalogs from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, each covering a different aspect of burst phenomenology. In this paper, we present time sequences of spectral fit parameters for 156 bursts selected for either their high peak flux or fluence. All bursts have at least eight spectra in excess of 45 σ above background and span burst durations from 1.66 to 278 s. Individual spectral accumulations are typically 128 ms long at the peak of the brightest events but can be as short as 16 ms, depending on the type of data selected. We have used mostly high energy resolution data from the Large Area Detectors, covering an energy range of typically 28-1800 keV. The spectral model chosen is from a small empirically determined set of functions, such as the well-known "GRB" function, that best fits the time-averaged burst spectra. Thus, there are generally three spectral shape parameters available for each of the 5500 total spectra: a low-energy power-law index, a characteristic break energy, and possibly a high-energy power-law index. We present the distributions of the observed sets of these parameters and comment on their implications. The complete set of data that accompanies this paper is necessarily large and thus is archived in the electronic edition of the Astrophysical Journal.

Pulse Profiles, Accretion Column Dips, and a Flare in GX 1+4 During a Faint State

The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) spacecraft observed the X-ray pulsar GX 1+4 for a period of 34 hours on July 19/20 1996. The source faded from an intensity of ~20 mCrab to a minimum of <~0.7 mCrab and then partially recovered towards the end of the observation. This extended minimum lasted ~40,000 seconds. Phase folded light curves at a barycentric rotation period of 124.36568 +/- 0.00020 seconds show that near the center of the extended minimum the source stopped pulsing in the traditional sense but retained a weak dip feature at the rotation period. Away from the extended minimum the dips are progressively narrower at higher energies and may be interpreted as obscurations or eclipses of the hot spot by the accretion column. The pulse profile changed from leading-edge bright before the extended minimum to trailing-edge bright after it. Data from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) show that a torque reversal occurred <10 days after our observation. Our data indicate that the observed rotation departs from a constant period with a Pdot/P value of ~-1.5% per year at a 4.5 sigma significance. We infer that we may have serendipitously obtained data, with high sensitivity and temporal resolution about the time of an accretion disk spin reversal. We also observed a rapid flare which had some precursor activity, close to the center of the extended minimum.

Towards gamma ray bursts localization with the BeppoSAX/GRBM

The method to evaluate the capability to de- tect and localize Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) with the Gamma Ray Burst Monitor (GRBM) onboard BeppoSAX is presented. We have used a sample of GRBs simultane- ously detected by the GRBM and the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) onboard CGRO to charac- terize the dependence of the GRBM trigger eciency on the intensity, hardness and incoming direction of GRBs and to compare the results of our method with known locations.

Multiwavelength Observations of GX 339−4 in 1996. III. Keck Spectroscopy

As part of our multiwavelength campaign of observations of GX 339-4 in 1996, we present our Keck spectroscopy performed on May 12 UT. At this time, neither the All-Sky Monitor (ASM) on the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) nor the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) detected the source. The optical emission was still dominated by the accretion disk, with V ≈ 17 mag. The dominant emission line is Hα, and for the first time we are able to resolve a double-peaked profile. The peak separation Δv = 370 ± 40 km s-1. Double-peaked Hα emission lines have been seen in the quiescent optical counterparts of many black hole X-ray novae. However, we find that the peak separation is significantly smaller in GX 339-4, implying that the optical emission comes from a larger radius than in the novae. The Hα emission line may be more akin to the one in Cyg X-1, where it is very difficult to determine whether the line is intrinsically double peaked, because absorption and emission lines from the companion star dominate.

The Fourth BATSE Gamma‐Ray Burst Catalog (Revised)

The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) has triggered on 1637 cosmic gamma-ray bursts between 1991 April 19 and 1996 August 29. These events constitute the Fourth BATSE burst catalog. The current version (4Br) has been revised from the version first circulated on CD-ROM in 1997 September (4B) to include improved locations for a subset of bursts that have been reprocessed using additional data. A significant difference from previous BATSE catalogs is the inclusion of bursts from periods when the trigger energy range differed from the nominal 50-300 keV. We present tables of the burst occurrence times, locations, peak fluxes, fluences, and durations. In general, results from previous BATSE catalogs are confirmed here with greater statistical significance.

Study of Very Short Gamma‐Ray Bursts

We have carried out a detailed study of the morphology of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with time duration less than 100 ms that includes: (1) a fast-Fourier spectrum analysis, (2) a comparison with the Stern analysis of longer bursts, (3) an inner comparison of the properties of the short bursts, and (4) a comparison of the short burst properties with the bulk of the GRBs from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) 4B catalogue. We have used the time tagged event (TTE) BATSE 3B data, which is available to the public, for part of the analysis. We show that these bursts are very different from the rest of the GRB events. The short bursts appear to be nearly identical, suggesting a separate class of GRBs. We also show that the short bursts have a Euclidean space-time distribution, in sharp contrast to the longer bursts with $\tau_{duration} >$ 100 ms that implies that these sources are likely local. Finally we compare the bursts with a model of primordial black hole (PBH) evaporation at the quark-gluon (Q-G) phase transition temperature and other shock wave models.

Hard X‐Ray Variability of the Black Hole Candidate GRO J0422+32 during Its 1992 Outburst

We have studied the hard X-ray variability of the soft X-ray transient GRO J0422+32 with BATSE (Burst and Transient Source Experiment) in the 20-100 keV energy band. Our analysis covers 180 days following the first X-ray detection of the source on August 5, 1992, fully covering its primary and secondary X-ray outbursts. We compute power density spectra (PDSs) in the 20-50, 50-100, and 20-100 keV energy bands, in the frequency interval 0.002-0.488 Hz. The PDSs of GRO J0422+32 are approximately flat up to a break frequency, and decay as a power law above it, with index approximately 1. During the first 70 days of the X-ray outburst, the PDSs of GRO J0422+32 show a significant quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) peak near approximately 0.2 Hz, superposed on the power-law tail. The break frequency of the PDSs obtained during the primary X-ray outburst of GRO J0422+32 occurs at 0.041 +/- 0.006 Hz; during the secondary outburst, the break is at 0.081 +/- 0.015 Hz. The power density at the break ranged between 44% and 89% / square root of Hz (20-100 keV). The canonical anticorrelation between the break frequency and the power density at the break, observed in Cyg X-1 and other BHCs in the low state, is not observed in the PDSs of GRO J0422+32. We compare our results with those of similar variability studies of Cyg X-1. The relation between the spectral slope and the amplitude of the X-ray variations of GRO J0422+32 is similar to that of Cyg X-1; however, the relation between the hard X-ray flux and the amplitude of its variation is opposite to what has been found in Cyg X-1. Phase lags between the X-ray flux variations of GRO J0422+32 at high and low photon energies could only be derived during the first 30 days of its outburst. During this period, the variations in the 50-100 keV band lag those in the 20-50 keV energy band by an approximately constant phase difference of 0.039(3) rad in the frequency interval 0.02-0.20 Hz. The time lags of GRO J0422+32 during the first 30 days of the outburst decrease with frequency as a power law with index 0.9 for v > 0.01 Hz.

High‐Energy Spectral and Temporal Characteristics of GRO J1008−57

A transient X-ray source, GRO J1008-57, was discovered by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) in 1993 July. It reached a maximum intensity of about 1.4 times that of the Crab, in the 20-60 keV energy band. Pulsations in the X-ray intensity were detected at a period of 93.5 s. It has subsequently been determined to be a member of the Be star subclass of X-ray transients. In addition to BATSE, GRO J1008-57 was observed during its outburst by several pointed high-energy experiments: ROSAT, ASCA, and CGRO/OSSE. These nonsimultaneous but contemporaneous observations took place near and shortly after the peak of the outburst light curve. We report for the first time on a combined analysis of the CGRO and ASCA data sets. We have attempted to model the broadband high-energy continuum distribution and phase-resolved spectra. The broadband, phase-averaged continuum is well approximated by a power law with an exponential cutoff. Evidence for 6.4 keV line emission due to Fe is presented based on our spectral analysis. The energy dependence of the pulse profiles is examined in order to determine the energy at which the low-energy double-peaked profile detected by ASCA evolves into single-peaked pulse profile detected by BATSE. We discuss the implications of this pulse profile for the magnetic field and beam distribution for GRO J1008-57. Analysis of the BATSE and Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer/ASM flux histories suggests that P~135 days. We further suggest that a transient disk is likely to form during episodes of outbursts.

BATSE Observations and Orbit Determination of the Be/X‐Ray Transient EXO 2030+375

The Be/X-ray binary transient pulsar EXO 2030+375 (Ps≈42 s) has been observed with the large-area detectors (LADs) of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO). Beginning in 1991 May, 22 outbursts were observed over 4 years. Thirteen outbursts between 1992 February and 1993 August occurred consecutively at intervals of ≈46 days, close to the orbital period determined by Parmar and colleagues using EXOSAT data. The pulse profiles from the BATSE data are double peaked and show no significant energy or luminosity dependence, unlike the EXOSAT observations of 1985 May-August. An exponential model was used to fit the observed hard X-ray energy spectra from the 13 consecutive outbursts. When EXOSAT discovered this pulsar during a giant outburst in 1985 May, the X-ray luminosity peaked at LX=1.0×1038 ergs s-1 (1-20 keV), assuming a 5 kpc distance to the source. The BATSE outbursts are found to be weaker, 0.3×1037 ≤ LX(1-20 keV) ≤ 3.0×1037 ergs s-1 after extrapolating the observed flux (20-50 keV) to the EXOSAT energy band. Pulse phases derived from the 13 outbursts were fitted to two different models to determine a binary orbit. The new orbit is used to estimate 95% confidence limits for the mean peak spin frequency change during the outbursts observed with BATSE. This and the mean peak flux are compared to the spin-up rates and fluxes determined by EXOSAT from the 1985 giant outburst, where disk accretion was thought to have occurred. It is unclear whether these normal outbursts were driven by wind or disk accretion.

The ULYSSES Supplement to the BATSE 3B Catalog of Cosmic Gamma‐Ray Bursts

We present Interplanetary Network Localization information for 150 gamma-ray bursts observed by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment(BATSE) between the end of the 3rd BATSE catalog and the end of the 4th BATSE catalog obtained by analyzing the arrival times of these bursts at the Ulysses and Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) spacecraft. For any given burst observed by these two spacecraft, arrival time analysis (triangulation) results in an annulus of possible arrival directions whose width varies between 7 arcseconds and 2.3 degrees, depending on the intensity and time history of the burst, and the distance of the Ulysses spacecraft from Earth. This annulus generally intersects the BATSE error circle, resulting in an average reduction of the error box area by a factor of 25.

Recent Outbursts from the Transient X‐Ray Pulsar Cepheus X‐4 (GS 2138+56)

We report on X-ray observations of the 66 s period transient X-ray pulsar Cep X-4 (GS 2138+56) with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory and with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). Two outbursts from Cep X-4 were observed with BATSE in 1993 June-July and in 1997 July. Pulse frequencies of v = 15.0941 + or - 0.0002 mHz on 1993 June 25 (MJD 49,163) and v = 15.0882 + or - 0.0002 mHz on 1997 July 12 (MJD 50,641) were each measured from 2-day spans of BATSE data near each outburst's peak. Cep X-4 showed an average spin down rate of dot-v = (-4.14 + or - 0.08) x 10(exp -14) Hz s(exp -1) between the 1993 and 1997 outbursts. After BATSE could no longer detect Cep X-4, public observations were performed on 1997 July 18 and July 25 with the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) on RXTE. A pulse frequency of v = 15.088 + or - 0.004 mHz was measured from observations on 1997 July 18 (MJD 50,647). Significant aperiodic noise, with an rms variance of about 18% in the frequency range 0.01 - 1.0 Hz, was observed on both days. Energy- and intensity-dependent pulse shape variations were also seen in these data. Recently published optical observations associate Cep X-4 with a Be companion star. If all four outbursts observed from Cep X-4 are assumed to occur at the same orbital phase, we find that the orbital period is between 23 and 147.3 days.

Gamma‐Ray Burst Arrival Time Localizations: Simultaneous Observations by Pioneer Venus Orbiter , Compton Gamma ‐ Ray Observatory , and Ulysses

Between the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) launch in 1991 April and the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) demise in 1992 October, concurrent coverage by CGRO, PVO, and Ulysses was obtained for several hundred gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Although most of these were below the PVO and Ulysses thresholds, 37 were positively detected by all three spacecraft, with data quality adequate for quantitative localization analysis. All were localized independently to ~2° accuracy by the CGRO Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE), and three were also localized by COMPTEL. We computed arrival-time error boxes, whose larger dimensions range from about 2' to several degrees and whose smaller dimensions are in the arcminute range. Twelve have areas less than 10 arcmin2, and only four have areas greater than 1 deg2. The area of the smallest box is 0.44 arcmin2. We find that the overall BATSE localization accuracy for these events is consistent with the most recent stated uncertainties. This work indicates that the ROSAT soft X-ray source found within a preliminary IPN error box for GB920501 (Trig 1576) (Hurley et al.) is less likely to be the GRB counterpart than previously reported.

BATSE All‐Sky Search for Transient Gamma‐Ray Lines between 300 and 550 keV

We present an all-sky search for bright, transient emission lines from 300 to 550 keV in more than two years (1993 December and 1996 March) of data from the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. Our approach is sensitive only to events with durations from 0.5-3.0 days. The results show that the gamma-ray sky is very quiet in these two years, which is consistent with an earlier search using BATSE data from 1991 to 1993. No transients are observed in the search, and our 3 σ upper limits are significantly below the fluxes of the two most significant events previously reported from Nova Muscae and 1E 1740.7-2942 by SIGMA. The disagreement between the BATSE data sets and those of SIGMA are quantitatively discussed.

Deconvolution of Directly Precipitating and Trap‐Precipitating Electrons in Solar Flare Hard X‐Rays. II.Compton Gamma Ray ObservatoryData Analysis

Based on the deconvolution method developed in the first paper of this series, we present here the data analysis of 20-200 keV hard X-ray (HXR) data from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) recorded during 103 solar flares in 1991-1995. These are all of the flares simultaneously observed by CGRO with high time resolution (64 ms) and by Yohkoh in flare mode. The deconvolution method takes the measured HXR count rates as function of energy and time, I(ε, t), and computes the following self-consistently: the electron injection function n(E, t), the directly precipitating electron flux nprec(E, t), the trapped-precipitating flux ntrap(E, t), the fraction of directly precipitating electrons (qprec), the electron time-of-flight distance (lTOF), and the electron density at the loss cone site of the trap (ne). We find that the electron time-of-flight distances (lTOF = 20.0 ± 7.3 Mm) inferred with the deconvolution method are fully consistent with those obtained earlier using a Fourier filter method. The trap electron densities (ne = 1010.96±0.57 cm-3) obtained from deconvolving the e-folding decay times of HXR pulses (according to the trap model of Melrose & Brown) are found to be statistically a factor of 1.5 lower than those inferred from cross-correlation delays. The fraction qprec of directly precipitating electrons, measured for the first time here, is found to have a mean (and standard deviation) of qprec = 0.42 ± 0.16. Based on this precipitation fraction, we infer loss cone angles of α0 ≈ 20°-70° and magnetic mirror ratios of R = Bloss/Binj ≈ 1.2 - 3 (with a median value of Rmedian = 1.6) between the loss cone site and injection/acceleration site, assuming an isotropic pitch angle distribution at the injection site. The TOF distances and mirror ratios constrain magnetic scale heights in flare loops to λB = 10-150 Mm. The fact that this two-component model (with free-streaming and trapped electrons) satisfactorily fits the energy-dependent time delays in virtually all flares provides strong evidence that electron time-of-flight differences and collisional scattering times dominate the observed HXR timing, while the injection of electrons appears to be synchronized (independent of energy) and does not reveal the timing of the acceleration process.

Multiyear BATSE Earth Occultation Monitoring of NGC 4151

We report the results of nearly six years of continuous monitoring of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO). Continuous 2154 day (5.9 yr) light curves for NGC 4151 have been derived from Earth occultation analysis of CGRO BATSE data. Fluxes are calculated assuming a cutoff power-law model of the form F(E) = F(E0)(E/E0)-α exp (E0 - E/Ecutoff). Light curves for the 20-70 and 70-200 keV bands are shown and found to have an average flux of 11 × 10-3 and 2.3 × 10-3 photons cm-2 s-1, respectively. Evidence for intrinsic source variability is observed with a fractional variation ratio measured at Fvar = 0.2 in both the 20-70 and 70-200 keV bands. A systematic difference is found between OSSE 50-150 keV flux measurements of NGC 4151 and simultaneous BATSE flux measurements in the same energy range.

A Multiyear Light Curve of Scorpius X‐1 Based on Compton Gamma Ray Observatory BATSE Spectroscopy Detector Observations

A multiyear light curve of the low mass X-ray binary, Scorpius X-1, is constructed based on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) Spectroscopy Detector (SD) data in the nominal energy range of 10-20 keV. A detailed discussion is given of the reduction process of the BATSE/SD data. Corrections to the SD measurements are made for off-axis pointings, spectral and bandpass changes, and differences in the eight SD sensitivities. The resulting 4.4 yr Sco X-1 SD light curve is characterized in terms of the timescales over which various types of emission changes occur. This light curve is then compared with Sco X-1 light curves obtained by Ariel 5, the BATSE Large Area Detectors (LADs), and the RXTE all-sky monitor (ASM). Coincident temporal coverage by the BATSE/SD and RXTE/ASM allows a direct comparison of the behavior of Sco X-1 over a range of high energies to be made. These ASM light curves are then used to discuss model constraints on the Sco X-1 system.

Discovery of the 198 Second X‐Ray Pulsar GRO J2058+42

GRO J2058+42, a transient 198 second x-ray pulsar, was discovered by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO), during a "giant" outburst in 1995 September-October. The total flux peaked at about 300 mCrab (20-50 keV) as measured by Earth occultation. The pulse period decreased from 198 s to 196 s during the 46-day outburst. The pulse shape evolved over the course of the outburst and exhibited energy dependent variations. BATSE observed five additional weak outbursts from GRO J2058+42, each with two week duration and peak pulsed flux of about 15 mCrab (20-50 keV), that were spaced by about 110 days. An observation of the 1996 November outburst by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) Proportional Counter Array (PCA) localized the source to within a 4\arcmin radius error circle (90 % confidence) centered on R.A. = 20h 59m.0, Decl. = 41 deg 43 arcmin (J2000). Additional shorter outbursts with peak pulsed fluxes of about 8 mCrab were detected by BATSE halfway between the first four 15 mCrab outbursts. The RXTE All-Sky Monitor detected all 8 weak outbursts with approximately equal durations and intensities. GRO J2058+42 is most likely a Be/X-ray binary that appears to outburst at periastron and apastron. No optical counterpart has been identified to date and no x-ray source was present in the error circle in archival ROSAT observations.

Rapid Hard X-Ray Variability in GRO J0422+32

The soft X-ray transient (SXT) GRO J0422+32 (Nova Persei 1992) was detected with the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the CGRO on 1992 August 5 (Paciesas et al. 1992) (Truncated Julian Day [TJD] 8839). The source intensity of GRO J0422+32 increased rapidly, reaching a flux of ~ 3 Crab (40-230 keV) within days after its first detection (Harmon et al. 1992). Hereafter, the X-ray intensity of the source decreased exponentially with a decay time of ~ 43 days (Vikhlinin et al. 1995). A secondary maximum of the X-ray intensity was reached at TJD 8978, 139 days after the first detection of the source. The daily averaged flux history of GRO J0422+32 in the 40-150 keV energy band is presented in Figure 1.