title: Analytical approximation of exact Poisson-lognormal likelihood functions.
abstract: Simple analytical approximations of exact Poisson-lognormal likelihood functions are obtained numerically. The Poisson-lognormal statistical model describes counting measurements with lognormally distributed normalization factors. The analytical expressions for the likelihood function allow maximum likelihood data fitting using nonlinear-least-squares-minimization computer programs. A computer program that converts count data into analytical approximation parameters as described in this note is freely available for downloading from the Los Alamos Bayesian Web site (www.lanl.gov/bayesian).
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. guthrie@lanl.gov
authors.forename: Guthrie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*