The SWIFT BAT Software Guide Version 6.3 30 ... - HEASARC - Nasa

16 CHAPTER 3. BAT OPERATING MODES AND DATA TYPES
Figure 3.3: Example of BAT 1 second rates. All variations shown are due to the space environment
and not an astrophysical source.
The rate data include:
• one-second rates (1 sec sampling; full energy band; full array);
• 64 msec rates (64 msec sampling; four energy bands; full array);
• quadrant rates (1.6 sec sampling; four energy bands; four separate spatial quadrants);
• mask-tagged rates (1.6 sec sampling; four energy bands; three distinct sources);
• maximum rates (maximum counts recorded for multiple time scales, energy bands and
spatial regions).
All rate data except for mask-tagged rate data are not background subtracted. This means
that the hard X-ray background and particle backgrounds are included in the rates. Also, since
there is no per-detector information recorded in the rate data, it is possible for noisy detectors to
generate rapid spikes which may emulate a gamma-ray burst or other rapidly varying phenomenon.
Thus, while rate variations may be suggestive of an astrophysical event, conclusive proof must be
obtained from image analysis.