A search for an X-ray counterpart to the extremely bright 1993 January 31 gamma-ray burst

The classical gamma-ray burst of 1993 January 31 (GRB 930131) is the highest peak flux burst ever recorded with CGRO/BATSE. It was also observed by other satellites. Its position was determined to within a narrow annulus by the Third Interplanetary Network (IPN). We searched for an X-ray counterpart to this bright burst with ASCA on 1996 January 9, and detected one X-ray source in the IPN annulus. Its position coincides with an X-ray source found with ROSAT, which had been identified with the normal F-type star HR 4657. The Bur and spectrum obtained with ASCA are consistent with those for an F-type star, and we confirm that the detected X-ray emission comes from HR 4657. Although this source is in the IPN annulus, the high chance probability of finding an X-ray source in the annulus does not justify the association of it with GRB 930131, We discuss whether or not this X-ray source is associated with GRB 930131.