{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/28217"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/28217","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Observations of X-ray counterparts to gamma-ray bursts in RXTE's All-Sky Monitor","abstract":"In this thesis, I report on a system I designed ad implemented to rapidly identify and localize new transient X-ray sources observed by the All-Sky Monitor (ASM) on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (XTJS), I used this system to identify fourteen Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). Eight of these events were found in archived ASM observations from the first 1.5 years of operation, but the rest were detected and reported within 2 - 32 hours of the event. In thirteen of the fourteen cases, I was able to provide error boxes with a reliable confidence level. I report here on the ASM instrument, the system to identify new X-ray sources, the ASM localization capability, the current state of the field of GRB studies, the thirteen GRB positions, and fourteen GRB light curves. I interpret these observations in the context of the Synchrotron Shock Model for GRB emission.","abstract_html":"In this thesis, I report on a system I designed ad implemented to rapidly identify and localize new transient X-ray sources observed by the All-Sky Monitor (ASM) on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (XTJS), I used this system to identify fourteen Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). Eight of these events were found in archived ASM observations from the first 1.5 years of operation, but the rest were detected and reported within 2 - 32 hours of the event. In thirteen of the fourteen cases, I was able to provide error boxes with a reliable confidence level. I report here on the ASM instrument, the system to identify new X-ray sources, the ASM localization capability, the current state of the field of GRB studies, the thirteen GRB positions, and fourteen GRB light curves. I interpret these observations in the context of the Synchrotron Shock Model for GRB emission.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Smith, Donald Andrew, 1970-"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Hale V.D. Bradt."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1999,"date_issued":"1999","date_published":"1999","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:56Z","subjects":["Physics."],"languages":["en_US"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. 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Bradt."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics."],"dc:creator":["Smith, Donald Andrew, 1970-"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2005-09-26T19:11:17Z"],"dc:date.available":["2005-09-26T19:11:17Z"],"dc:date.issued":["1999"],"dc:description":["Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 1999.","Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-191)."],"dc:description.abstract":["In this thesis, I report on a system I designed ad implemented to rapidly identify and localize new transient X-ray sources observed by the All-Sky Monitor (ASM) on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (XTJS), I used this system to identify fourteen Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). Eight of these events were found in archived ASM observations from the first 1.5 years of operation, but the rest were detected and reported within 2 - 32 hours of the event. 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