[Compton GRO Cycle 7]

The goals of this project were to use the improved location accuracy of combined BATSE/Ulysses-IPN gamma-ray burst (GRB) data to search for small-angle clustering within the burst population and to search for possible correlations between bursts and catalogs of known astrophysical objects. The research was completed in several phases due to the length of time needed to process the basic BATSE/Ulysses data and to develop the appropriate analysis algorithms. In the first phase, BATSE/Ulysses data were gathered from their respective sources and processed to yield, final BATSE burst catalog locations and final BATSE/Ulysses IPN timing annuli. The final data are published. In the next phase, traditional statistical analysis techniques were used to search a subset of the data for small-angle clustering and. correlations, and to produce upper limits. Next, the unique analysis techniques and software described in the proposal were developed and,applied to the final set of data (corresponding to the 4B catalog). The final search did not find any significant self-clustering or correlations with supernovae, AGN, or near by galaxy clusters. The investigation ruled-out earlier findings that indicated (with marginal significance) such results, and. provided stringent limits on the allowable fraction of bursts that are self-clustered and associated with selected known objects. An added benefit of this research came in 1998 when it was suggested that some gamma-ray bursts may be associated with supernova (SN) explosions. We responded rapidly and applied the tools of this investigation to study this possibility. Using combined BATSE/Ulysses data, we were able to completely rule out any association between bright bursts and known supernovae, thereby questioning the validity of any GRB/SN association. If a GRB/SN association exists, it must be only with a small fraction of weak bursts.