ROSAT-pointed observations of two gamma-ray burst error boxes.
Hurley, K.; Motch, C.; Kouveliotou, C.; Boer, M.; Pizzichini, G.; Hartman, D.
Germany, Italy, United States, France
Abstract
We present ROSAT observations of two gamma-ray burst error boxes and of one possible optical transient source. No point sources were detected and a comparison is made with previous observations of the same objects (Boer et al. 1988, 1991). We interpret the data in the context of gamma-ray burst models that invoke galactic neutron stars. Although recent BATSE observations (Meegan et al. 1992) effectively rule out a galactic disk origin for the majority of gamma-ray bursts, it cannot be excluded at present that a fraction of them originates from nearby neutron stars. It is these sources that are constrained by the ROSAT data presented here.