SEARCH FOR A CORRELATION OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS WITH QUASARS AND ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

The localizations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) from WATCH/GRANAT, WATCH/ EURECA, the Interplanetary Network, and BATSE/COMPTON (a total of 327 bursts) are used to search for an angular correlation of GRBs with qua sars, BL Lac objects, and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). A statistical ly significant correlation of GRBs with bright AGNs at 0.1 < z < 0.32 has been found. Bright GRBs are considered; if their sources lie at su ch distances, then the sources of the weakest BATSE bursts are at z si milar or equal to 1. The possibility that GRBs are physically associat ed with bright AGNs is discussed.