THE BATSE SEARCH FOR ABSORPTION-LINES

No absorption lines between 15 and 100 keV have been detected in burst spectra accumulated by BATSE. Almost 250 bursts have been inspected v isually, and a computerized search has begun. Our simulations show tha t BATSE could indeed detect Lines similar to those observed by Ginga i n strong bursts, and our tests of the detectors' actual capabilities d emonstrate they function as understood. The apparent discrepancy betwe en BATSE and Ginga is not yet compelling, and therefore the BATSE nond etections do not invalidate the Ginga detections. Nonetheless, the abs ence of BATSE line detections indicates a low line-occurrence frequenc y.