On the reliability of X-ray and gamma-ray lines
Abstract
Different procedures have been used by observers in gamma-ray astronomy to estimate the statistical reliability of their observations. Cherry et al. (1980) found that only a small fraction of reported identifications of gamma lines are statistically reliable while most of them can be attributed to background fluctuations. In this paper, we show that Cherry et al. have systematically underestimated the statistical significance of the lines. A formula for evaluating the statistical significance is proposed and tested by Monte Carlo calculations. Using this formula, new estimates for the confidence levels of reported lines are obtained.
- Publication:
-
Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- June 1984
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0275-1062(84)90044-4
- Bibcode:
- 1984ChA&A...8..151M