GCN Circular 18223

S. D. Barthelmy (GSFC), J. R. Cummings (GSFC/UMBC), N. Gehrels (GSFC),
H. A. Krimm (GSFC/USRA), A. Y. Lien (GSFC/UMBC), C. B. Markwardt (GSFC),
F. E. Marshall (GSFC), D. M. Palmer (LANL), T. Sakamoto (AGU),
M. Stamatikos (OSU), T. N. Ukwatta (LANL)
(i.e. the Swift-BAT team):
 
Using the data set from T-239 to T+963 sec from the recent telemetry downlink,
we report further analysis of BAT GRB 150831B (trigger #653978)
(Marshall et al., GCN Circ. 18215
Not found
 
 
).  The BAT ground-calculated position is
RA, Dec = 271.030, -27.243 deg, which is 
   RA(J2000)  =  18h 04m 07.2s 
   Dec(J2000) = -27d 14' 34.4" 
with an uncertainty of 2.0 arcmin, (radius, sys+stat, 90% containment).
The partial coding was 7%.
 
The mask-weighted light curve shows two peaks starting at ~T-0.5 sec,
peaking at ~T+1 sec, and ending at ~T+8 sec.  T90 (15-350 keV)
is 6.2 +- 1.0 sec (estimated error including systematics).
 
The time-averaged spectrum from T-0.58 to T+6.84 sec is best fit by a simple
power-law model.  The power law index of the time-averaged spectrum is
1.87 +- 0.19.  The fluence in the 15-150 keV band is 1.4 +- 0.2 x 10^-06 erg/cm2.
The 1-sec peak photon flux measured from T-0.15 sec in the 15-150 keV band
is 6.1 +- 1.1 ph/cm2/sec.  All the quoted errors are at the 90% confidence
level. 

In the BAT energy band, the hardness ratio vs T90 is typical of a GRB origin,
but not inconsistant with a galactic origin.  The T90 is too long for a
magnetar origin. We also note that the fading in the X-ray band is tyical
for a GRB (D'Avanzo, GCN 18222
Not found
 
 
).
 
The results of the batgrbproduct analysis are available at
http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/notices_s/653978/BA/