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.