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Statistical Properties of SGR 1806-20 BurstsWe present statistics of SGR 1806-20 bursts, combining 290 events detected with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer/Proportional Counter Array, 111 events detected with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment, and 134 events detected with the International Cometary, Explorer. We find that the fluence distribution of bursts observed with each instrument are well described by power laws with indices 1.43, 1.76, and 1.67, respectively. The distribution of time intervals between successive bursts from SGR 1806-20 is described by a lognormal function with a peak at 103 s. There is no correlation between the burst intensity and either the waiting times until the next burst or the time elapsed since the previous burst. In all these statistical properties, SGR 1806-20 bursts resemble a self-organized critical system, similar to earthquakes and solar flares. Our results thus support the hypothesis that the energy source for soft gamma repeater bursts is crustquakes due to the evolving, strong magnetic field of the neutron star, rather than any accretion or nuclear power.
Document ID
20000068432
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Gogus, Ersin
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Woods, Peter M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Kouveliotou, Chryssa
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
VanParadijs, Jan
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Briggs, Michael S.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Duncan, Robert C.
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX United States)
Thompson, Christopher
(North Carolina Univ. Chapel Hill, NC United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Publisher: American Astronomical Society
Volume: 532
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-3674
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-7787
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-7849
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-8381
CONTRACT_GRANT: ARP-028
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC8-65
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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