Awakening the BALROG: bayesian location reconstruction of GRBs
File(s)paper_accepted.pdf (5.95 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Burgess, JM
Yu, HF
Greiner, J
Mortlock, DJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The accurate spatial location of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is crucial for both accurately characterizing their spectra and follow-up observations by other instruments. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) has the largest field of view for detecting GRBs as it views the entire unocculted sky, but as a non-imaging instrument it relies on the relative count rates observed in each of its 14 detectors to localize transients. Improving its ability to accurately locate GRBs and other transients is vital to the paradigm of multimessenger astronomy, including the electromagnetic follow-up of gravitational wave signals. Here we present the BAyesian Location Reconstruction Of GRBs (balrog) method for localizing and characterizing GBM transients. Our approach eliminates the systematics of previous approaches by simultaneously fitting for the location and spectrum of a source. It also correctly incorporates the uncertainties in the location of a transient into the spectral parameters and produces reliable positional uncertainties for both well-localized sources and those for which the GBM data cannot effectively constrain the position. While computationally expensive, balrog can be implemented to enable quick follow-up of all GBM transient signals. Also, we identify possible response problems that require attention and caution when using standard, public GBM detector response matrices. Finally, we examine the effects of including the uncertainty in location on the spectral parameters of GRB 080916C. We find that spectral parameters change and no extra components are required when these effects are included in contrast to when we use a fixed location. This finding has the potential to alter both the GRB spectral catalogues and the reported spectral composition of some well-known GRBs.
Date Issued
2018-05-01
Date Acceptance
2017-11-01
Citation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2018, 476 (2), pp.1427-1444
ISSN
0035-8711
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
1427
End Page
1444
Journal / Book Title
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume
476
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
©2017 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sponsor
Imperial College Trust
European Commission
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Grant Number
N/A
H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015-691164
ST-N000838
ST/N000838/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
methods: data analysis
methods: statistical
gamma-ray burst: general
RAY BURST MONITOR
BATSE OBSERVATIONS
SIMULATION
SPECTRA
0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-11-28