Gamma-ray Burst Locations Research Articles

Gamma-ray burst localization by HEAO 3

The relative response of the five segments of the HEAO 3 gamma-ray-spectroscope anticoincidence shield (a 6.62-cm-thick 33.1-cm-OD 27.4-cm-high CsI cylinder) is used to estimate the directions of gamma-ray bursts on February 13, 1980 and September 29, 1979. The operation of the instrument and the data-analysis procedures are described, and the results are presented graphically. The 1980 event is located in an error box centered on alpha = 104.5 deg and delta = -15 deg (error box A of Atteia et al., 1987). The position of the 1979 event (alpha = 75 deg and delta = 40 deg) is shown to be consistent with ISEE 3 and Pioneer Venus Orbiter arrival times.

GAMMA RAY BURSTS

Recent measurements and discoveries in gamma ray bursts and transients are reviewed including observations of the red shifted annihilation line in two kinds of slow transients (in 'classical' gamma ray bursts and in the unique 1979 March 5th event); of red shifted nuclear lines in a slow transient and in one gamma ray burst; and of the positions of precise source locations of gamma ray bursts and of the March 5th event, within the supernova remnant N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Localization of gamma-ray bursts with wide field multiple pinhole camera system in near earth orbit

A multiple pinhole camera system has been designed and proposed for a small satellite of the SAS type for the detection and localization of gamma-ray bursts. The instrument consists of a three unit array of detectors each of which includes a semi-cylindrical collimator surrounding a twodimensional position-sensitive detector. The collimator contains slits of 1 mm width that are cut parallel to the axis of the cylinder. The slits are randomly arranged in azimuth around the cylinder. X-rays may enter the counter through several surfaces. The point at which photoelectric interaction takes place is determined in two dimensions in a plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis. Each unit of the system determines the position of a burst to a great circle. An intersection of two (or three) great circles provides the precise positions.

Location of Transient Gamma-Ray Sources with Thin Flat Scintillators

Thin flat slabs of scintillator are a useful means of measuring angular location of gamma-ray fluxes of astronomical interest. A statistical estimate of position error has been made of two scintillator systems suitable for gamma-ray burst location from a balloon or satellite platform. A single rotating scintillator with associated flux monitor is compared with a pair of stationary orthogonal scintillators. Position error for a strong burst is of the order of a few arcmin if systematic errors are ignored.