Search for Gamma-Ray Burst Classes with the RHESSI Satellite

TL;DR

This study analyzes 427 gamma-ray bursts from RHESSI to investigate their classification, finding evidence for an intermediate group that differs from previous BATSE results, especially in hardness.

Contribution

It provides a comparative statistical analysis of GRB classes using RHESSI data and confirms the existence of an intermediate group with distinct properties.

Findings

Significant intermediate GRB group detected with maximum likelihood methods.

Intermediate group in RHESSI data is harder than the long group.

No significant intermediate group found using simple $hi^2$ or F-tests.

Abstract

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 $\chi^2$, 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 $\chi^2$ 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.