Skymapping with OSSE via the Mean Field Annealing Pixon Technique

Abstract

We present progress toward using scanned OSSE observations for mapping and sky survey work. To this end, we have developed a technique for detecting pointlike sources of unknown number and location, given that they appear in a background which is relatively featureless or which can be modeled. The technique, based on the newly developed concept and mean field annealing, is described, with sample reconstructions of data from the OSSE Virgo Survey. The results demonstrate the capability of reconstructing source information without any a priori information about the number and/or location of pointlike sources in the field-of-view.