On the Spectral Lags and Peak-Counts of the Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by the RHESSI Satellite

TL;DR

This study analyzes spectral lags and peak-count rates of 427 gamma-ray bursts from RHESSI, revealing that intermediate-duration bursts resemble short bursts and differ from long bursts, with implications for understanding GRB classifications.

Contribution

First calculation of spectral lags and peak-count rates for RHESSI GRBs, and analysis of their properties to refine GRB classification and compare with Swift data.

Findings

Intermediate-duration GRBs resemble short bursts.

Intermediate and long GRBs are distinct groups.

Different phenomena may produce intermediate GRBs in RHESSI and Swift datasets.

Abstract

A sample of 427 gamma-ray bursts from a database (February 2002 - April 2008) of the RHESSI satellite is analyzed statistically. The spectral lags and peak-count rates, which have been calculated for the first time in this paper, are studied completing an earlier analysis of durations and hardness ratios. The analysis of the RHESSI database has already inferred the existence of a third group with intermediate duration, apart from the so-called short and long groups. First aim of this article is to discuss the properties of these intermediate-duration bursts in terms of peak-count rates and spectral lags. Second aim is to discuss the number of GRB groups using another statistical method and by employing the peak-count rates and spectral lags as well. The standard parametric (model-based clustering) and non-parametric (K-means clustering) statistical tests together with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Anderson-Darling tests are used. Two new results are obtained: A. The intermediate-duration group has similar properties to the group of short bursts. Intermediate and long groups appear to be different. B. The intermediate-duration GRBs in the RHESSI and Swift databases seem to be represented by different phenomena.