arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C. Wigger.
Between 2000 November and 2006 May, one or more spacecraft of the interplanetary network (IPN) detected 226 cosmic gamma-ray bursts that were also detected by the FREGATE experiment aboard the HETE-II spacecraft. During this period, the IPN consisted of up to nine spacecraft, and using triangulation, the localizations of 157 bursts were obtained. We present the IPN localization data on these events.
The performance of the nine RHESSI germanium detectors has been gradually deteriorating since its launch in 2002 because of radiation damage. To restore its former sensitivity, the spectrometer underwent an annealing procedure in November 2007. However, it changed the RHESSI response and affected gamma-ray burst measurements, e.g., the hardness ratios and the spectral capabilities below ~100keV.
Several papers were written about the gamma-ray burst (GRBs) groups. Our statistical study is based on the durations and hardness ratios of the Swift and RHESSI data.
A sample of 427 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), measured by the RHESSI satellite, is studied statistically to determine the number of GRB groups. Previous studies based on the BATSE Catalog and recently on the Swift data claim the existence of an intermediate GRB group, besides the long and short groups. Using only the GRB durations T90 and chi^2 or F-test, we have not found any statistically significant intermediate group. However, the maximum likelihood ratio test, one-dimensional as well as two-dimensional hardness vs. T90 plane, reveal the reality of an intermediate group. Hence, the existence of this group follows not only from the BATSE and Swift datasets, but also from the RHESSI results.
Between 1996 July and 2002 April, one or more spacecraft of the interplanetary network detected 787 cosmic gamma-ray bursts that were also detected by the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor and/or Wide-Field X-Ray Camera experiments aboard the BeppoSAX spacecraft. During this period, the network consisted of up to six spacecraft, and using triangulation, the localizations of 475 bursts were obtained. We present the localization data for these events.
We are integrating the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) into the Interplanetary Network (IPN) of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) detectors. With the GBM, the IPN will comprise 9 experiments. This will 1) assist the Fermi team in understanding and reducing their systematic localization uncertainties, 2) reduce the sizes of the GBM and Large Area Telescope (LAT) error circles by 1 to 4 orders of magnitude, 3) facilitate the identification of GRB sources with objects found by ground- and space-based observatories at other wavelengths, from the radio to very high energy gamma-rays, 4) reduce the uncertainties in associating some LAT detections of high energy photons with GBM bursts, and 5) facilitate searches for non-electromagnetic GRB counterparts, particularly neutrinos and gravitational radiation. We present examples and demonstrate the synergy between Fermi and the IPN. This is a Fermi Cycle 2 Guest Investigator project.
The performance of nine RHESSI germanium detectors has been gradually deteriorating since its launch in 2002 because of radiation damage caused by passing through the Earth's radiation belts. To restore its former sensitivity, the spectrometer underwent an annealing procedure in November 2007. It, however, changed the RHESSI response and affected gamma-ray burst measurements, e.g., the hardness ratios and the spectral capabilities bellow approximately 100 keV.
Some articles based on the BATSE gamma-ray burst (GRB) catalog claim the existence of a third population of GRBs, besides long and short. In this contribution we wanted to verify these claims with an independent data source, namely the RHESSI GRB catalog. Our verification is based on the statistical analysis of duration and hardness ratio of GRBs. The result is that there is no significant third group of GRBs in our RHESSI GRB data-set.
A sample of 286 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Swift satellite and 358 GRBs detected by the RHESSI satellite are studied statistically. Previously published articles, based on the BATSE GRB Catalog, claimed the existence of an intermediate subgroup of GRBs with respect to duration. We use the statistical chi^2 test and the F-test to compare the number of GRB subgroups in our databases with the earlier BATSE results. Similarly to the BATSE database, the short and long subgroups are well detected in the Swift and RHESSI data. However, contrary to the BATSE data, we have not found a statistically significant intermediate subgroup in either Swift or RHESSI data.
A sample of almost 400 Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the RHESSI satellite is studied statistically. We focus on GRB duration and hardness ratio and use the statistical chi^2 test and the F-test to compare the number of GRB subgroups in the RHESSI database with that of the BATSE database. Although some previous articles based on the BATSE catalog claim the existence of an intermediate GRB subgroup, besides long and short, we have not found a statistically significant intermediate subgroup in the RHESSI data.
The Gamma-ray burst (GRB) database based on the data by the RHESSI satellite provides a unique and homogeneous database for future analyses. Here we present preliminary results on the duration and hardness ratio distributions for a sample of 228 GRBs observed with RHESSI.
GRB 051103 is considered to be a candidate soft gamma repeater (SGR) extragalactic giant magnetar flare by virtue of its proximity on the sky to M81/M82, as well as its time history, localization, and energy spectrum. We have derived a refined interplanetary network localization for this burst which reduces the size of the error box by over a factor of two. We examine its time history for evidence of a periodic component, which would be one signature of an SGR giant flare, and conclude that this component is neither detected nor detectable under reasonable assumptions. We analyze the time-resolved energy spectra of this event with improved time- and energy resolution, and conclude that although the spectrum is very hard, its temporal evolution at late times cannot be determined, which further complicates the giant flare association. We also present new optical observations reaching limiting magnitudes of R > 24.5, about 4 magnitudes deeper than previously reported. In tandem with serendipitous observations of M81 taken immediately before and one month after the burst, these place strong constraints on any rapidly variable sources in the region of the refined error ellipse proximate to M81. We do not find any convincing afterglow candidates from either background galaxies or sources in M81, although within the refined error region we do locate two UV bright star forming regions which may host SGRs. A supernova remnant (SNR) within the error ellipse could provide further support for an SGR giant flare association, but we were unable to identify any SNR within the error ellipse. These data still do not allow strong constraints on the nature of the GRB 051103 progenitor, and suggest that candidate extragalactic SGR giant flares will be difficult, although not impossible, to confirm.
A sample of 427 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), measured by the RHESSI satellite, is studied statistically with respect to duration and hardness ratio. Standard statistical tests are used, such as $χ^2$, F-test and the maximum likelihood ratio test, in order to compare the number of GRB groups in the RHESSI database with that of the BATSE database. Previous studies based on the BATSE Catalog claim the existence of an intermediate GRB group, besides the long and short groups. Using only the GRB duration $T_{90}$ as information and $χ^2$ or F-test, we have not found any statistically significant intermediate group in the RHESSI data. However, maximum likelihood ratio test reveals a significant intermediate group. Also using the 2-dimensional hardness / $T_{90}$ plane, the maximum likelihood analysis reveals a significant intermediate group. Contrary to the BATSE database, the intermediate group in the RHESSI data-set is harder than the long one. The existence of an intermediate group follows not only from the BATSE data-set, but also from the RHESSI one.
GRB 021206 is one of the brightest GRBs ever observed. Its prompt emission, as measured by RHESSI, shows an unexpected spectral feature. The spectrum has a peak energy of about 700 keV and can be described by a Band function up to 4.5 MeV. Above 4.5 MeV, the spectrum hardens again, so that the Band function fails to fit the whole RHESSI energy range up to 17 MeV. Nor does the sum of a blackbody function plus a power law, even though such a function can describe a spectral hardening. The cannonball model on the other hand predicts such a hardening, and we found that it fits the spectrum of GRB 021206 perfectly. We also analysed other strong GRBs observed by RHESSI, namely GRBs 020715, 021008, 030329, 030406, 030519B, 031027, 031111. We found that all their spectra can be fit by the cannonball model as well as by a Band function.
The Ge spectrometer of the RHESSI satellite is sensitive to Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) from about 40 keV up to 17 MeV, thus ideally complementing the Swift/BAT instrument whose sensitivity decreases above 150 keV. We present preliminary results of spectral fits of RHESSI GRB data. After describing our method, the RHESSI results are discussed and compared with Swift and Konus.
The giant flare of December 27, 2004 from SGR 1806-20 represents one of the most extraordinary events captured in over three decades of monitoring the gamma-ray sky. One measure of the intensity of the main peak is its effect on X- and gamma-ray instruments. RHESSI, an instrument designed to study the brightest solar flares, was completely saturated for ~0.5 s following the start of the main peak. A fortuitous alignment of SGR 1806-20 near the Sun at the time of the giant flare, however, allowed RHESSI a unique view of the giant flare event, including the precursor, the main peak decay, and the pulsed tail. Since RHESSI was saturated during the main peak, we augment these observations with Wind and RHESSI particle detector data in order to reconstruct the main peak as well. Here we present detailed spectral analysis and evolution of the giant flare. We report the novel detection of a relatively soft fast peak just milliseconds before the main peak, whose timescale and sizescale indicate a magnetospheric origin. We present the novel detection of emission extending up to 17 MeV immediately following the main peak, perhaps revealing a highly-extended corona driven by the hyper-Eddington luminosities. The spectral evolution and pulse evolution during the tail are presented, demonstrating significant magnetospheric twist and evolution during this phase. Blackbody radii are derived for every stage of the flare, which show remarkable agreement despite the range of luminosities and temperatures covered. Finally, we place significant upper limits on afterglow emission in the hundreds of seconds following the giant flare.
The degree of linear polarization in solar flares has not yet been precisely determined despite multiple attempts to measure it with different missions. The high energy range in particular has very rarely been explored, due to its greater instrumental difficulties. We approached the subject using the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) satellite to study 6 X-class and 1 M-class flares in the energy range between 100 keV and 350 keV. Using RHESSI as a polarimeter requires the application of strict cuts to the event list in order to extract those photons that are Compton scattered between two detectors. Our measurements show polarization values between 2% and 54%, with errors ranging from 10% to 26% in 1 sigma level. In view of the large uncertainties in both the magnitude and direction of the polarization vector, the results can only reject source models with extreme properties.
Soft-gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) are galactic X-ray stars that emit numerous short-duration (about 0.1 s) bursts of hard X-rays during sporadic active periods. They are thought to be magnetars: strongly magnetized neutron stars with emissions powered by the dissipation of magnetic energy. Here we report the detection of a long (380 s) giant flare from SGR 1806-20, which was much more luminous than any previous transient event observed in our Galaxy. (In the first 0.2 s, the flare released as much energy as the Sun radiates in a quarter of a million years.) Its power can be explained by a catastrophic instability involving global crust failure and magnetic reconnection on a magnetar, with possible large-scale untwisting of magnetic field lines outside the star. From a great distance this event would appear to be a short-duration, hard-spectrum cosmic gamma-ray burst. At least a significant fraction of the mysterious short-duration gamma-ray bursts therefore may come from extragalactic magnetars.