Non-Parametric Estimation of Gamma-Ray Burst Intensities Using Haar Wavelets

In this article, I present a method for the non-parametric (model-free) estimation of intensity pro les underlying gamma-ray bursts. The method, TIPSH, is based on applying specially calibrated thresholds to the Haar wavelet coe cients 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. When applied to an idealized signal in a small simulation study and a selection of actual gamma-ray bursts, the TIPSH algorithm is found to be well capable of simultaneously estimating the smooth, uniform background and the pulse-like structure of gamma-ray burst signals. Subject headings: gamma rays: bursts { methods: statistical 2