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Integral-moment analysis of the BATSE gamma-ray burst intensity distributionWe have applied the technique of integral-moment analysis to the intensity distribution of the first 260 gamma-ray bursts observed by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. This technique provides direct measurement of properties such as the mean, variance, and skewness of the convolved luminosity-number density distribution, as well as associated uncertainties. Using this method, one obtains insight into the nature of the source distributions unavailable through computation of traditional single parameters such as V/V(sub max)). If the luminosity function of the gamma-ray bursts is strongly peaked, giving bursts only a narrow range of luminosities, these results are then direct probes of the radial distribution of sources, regardless of whether the bursts are a local phenomenon, are distributed in a galactic halo, or are at cosmological distances. Accordingly, an integral-moment analysis of the intensity distribution of the gamma-ray bursts provides for the most complete analytic description of the source distribution available from the data, and offers the most comprehensive test of the compatibility of a given hypothesized distribution with observation.
Document ID
19950029124
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Horack, John M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Emslie, A. Gordon
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
June 20, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Volume: 428
Issue: 2, pt
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
95A60723
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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