Statistical uncertainty in the re-analysis of polarization in GRB021206

We recently reported the first detection of an astrophysical gamma-ray polarization from GRB021206 using the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) spacecraft. Our analysis suggested gamma-ray polarization at an astoundingly high level, 80±20%. A recent manuscript re-analyzes this event in the RHESSI data, and sets an upper limit on potential polarization of 4.1% – clearly inconsistent with our initial analysis. This manuscript raises a number of important concerns about the analysis, which are already being addressed in a separate methods paper under preparation. We note here, however, that the limit set on the potential polarization by this re-analysis is significantly underestimated using their novel statistical methods. Introduction GRB021206 was detected by both RHESSI and the Interplanetary Network (IPN) on 6 December 2002 at 22:49 UT. The GRB was immediately identified as both exceptionally bright and hard. The IPN localized the GRB to 18 off solar. The combination of a bright