2004/11/24 by S. Gillessen, H. L. Harney · 2 citations
Health Professions · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques #Radioactivity and Radon Measurements #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20035839
12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in A&A
arxiv created 2004/11/24 · openalex publication_date 2005/01/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
The significance of having detected an astrophysical gamma ray source is usually calculated by means of a formula derived by Li & Ma (1983, ApJ, 272, 317). We solve the same problem in terms of Bayesian statistics, which provides a logically more satisfactory framework. We do not use any subjective elements in the present version of Bayesian statistics. We show that for large count numbers and a weak source the Li & Ma formula agrees with the Bayesian result. For other cases the two results differ, both due to the mathematically different treatment and the fact that only Bayesian inference can take into account prior knowldege.