Analysis of BATSE Data Using the Haar Transform and Poisson

A recently introduced method for the non-parametric (model-free) estimation of intensity prooles underlying gamma-ray bursts is discussed. The method, TIPSH, is based on applying thresholds to the Haar wavelet coeecients of binned counts gathered from such bursts. As functions well-localized with respect to both time and scale, wavelets are an ideal tool for working with the often sharp, abrupt nature of gamma-ray burst signals. In addition, the thresholds applied to the Haar wavelet coeecients are specially calibrated to account for the Poisson noise characteristics in the data. I will present relevant background on the derivation of these thresholds, as well as some examples using data from NASA's BATSE instruments. The examples provide evidence that the TIPSH algorithm is well capable of simultaneously estimating the smooth uniform background and the pulse-like structure of gamma-ray burst signals.