Periodicities in gamma-ray burst light curves
Only one case is known where a gamma-ray burst (GRB) light curve indisputably exhibits a periodic behavior. However, a number of GRB light curves have claims for periodicity of varying degrees of plausibility. A vital part of each claim is some mathematical calculation of the significance of the period when compared to some appropriate hypothesis where no modulation is present. For the period search techniques of Fourier transforms, periodograms, and model fitting, well known statistical procedures allow the significance to be evaluated. However, a fourth period search technique, so called 'pattern recognition', does not have any published means of estimating confidence levels. Here, a series of Monte Carlo calculations is presented which will allow evaluation of a period's significance. These results are then applied to periods proposed for 16 bursts.