Probing the Gamma-Ray Burst Rate with Trigger Simulations of the Swift
  Burst Alert Telescope
  The long gamma-ray burst (GRB) rate is essential for revealing the connection
between GRBs, supernovae and stellar evolution. Additionally, the GRB rate at
high redshift provides a strong probe of star formation history in the early
universe. While hundreds of GRBs are observed by Swift, it remains difficult to
determine the intrinsic GRB rate due to the complex trigger algorithm of Swift.
Current studies usually approximate the Swift trigger algorithm by a single
detection threshold. However, unlike the previously flown GRB instruments,
Swift has over 500 trigger criteria based on photon count rate and additional
image threshold for localization. To investigate possible systematic biases and
explore the intrinsic GRB properties, we developed a program that is capable of
simulating all the rate trigger criteria and mimicking the image trigger
threshold. We use this program to search for the intrinsic GRB rate. Our
simulations show that adopting the complex trigger algorithm of Swift increases
the detection rate of dim bursts. As a result, we find that either the GRB rate
is much higher than previously expected at large redshift, or the luminosity
evolution is non-negligible. We will discuss the best results of the GRB rate
in our search, and their impact on the star-formation history.
