RXTE OBSERVATIONS OF GRB AFTERGLOWS

Variable X-ray sources that appear to be the afterglows of the strong gamma-ray bursts GRB 970616 and GRB 970828 have been discovered with t he RXTE PCA. First seen less than 4 hours after the burst, the flux fr om the sources decreased with time. Although near the sensitivity Limi t of the PCA, the sources are the brightest afterglows yet seen in X-r ays. Similar observations of two other bursts did not detect ang after glows. These results are part of a continuing collaboration between RX TE, BATSE, and IPN scientists to rapidly detect X-ray afterglows of br ight gamma-ray bursts.