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XSTAR

A Spectral Analysis Tool

Version 2.2
T.R. Kallman
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

January 30, 2012

Contents
Introduction
- What is XSTAR?
- Scope of This Document
- Acknowledgments
- Useful addresses
A Walkthrough of XSTAR
- XSTAR Model: Spherical cloud
- xstar Model: H II region
- xstar Model: Quasar Broad Line Cloud
An Overview of XSTAR
- Basic Operation
- Limitations
- Getting help
User Input to XSTAR
- Input Parameter Summary
- Description of XSTAR Parameters
- The XSTAR Input Spectral Models
- Direct Editing of the Parameter File
- Hidden Parameters
XSTAR output
- The Spectral Data File: xout_spect1.fits
- The Continuum File: xout_cont1.fits
- The Line Lumnosity File: xout_lines1.fits
- The Abundances Data File: xout_abund1.fits
- Detailed Ionic Information: xout_detail.fits
- Detailed Line Information: xout_detal2.fits
  - XSTAR Run Log: xout_step.log
Problems and Pitfalls
- Nickel and Iron-peak Eelements
- Mtables
- Execution Time
- Low Density
- High Density
- The Energy Grid
- The Ionizing Spectrum
- The use of critf
- Energy Budget
- Column Density
- Notes regarding equivalent widths of unresolved absorption lines in mtables
  - Bug in version 2.1k
XSTAR2XSPEC
- Parameters
- Running XSTAR2XSPEC
- Examples
  - Example 1: A grid of coronal models
  - Example 2: Photoionized Grid
WARMABS
- Obtaining warmabs
- Installation
- warmabs
- photemis
- windabs
- multabs
- hotabs
- Creating Your Own pops.fits Files
- Common block `ewout'
- Limitations
The Physics Behind XSTAR
- Assumptions
- Input
- Elementary Considerations
- Algorithm
- Recombination Continuum Emission and Escape
- Atomic Processes
Theory of Operation
- XSTAR
- Flow Chart
- XSTAR2XSPEC
The Lexington Benchmarks
- Introduction
- Cool H II Region (benchmark 1)
  - Input:
- Meudon H II Region (benchmark 2)
  - Input:
  - Output:
- Blister H II Region (benchmark 3)
  - Input:
  - Output:
Troubleshooting
- XSTAR
- XSTAR2XSPEC
- When The Above Doesn't Work
The Atomic Database
- General Description
- Utility Programs
- Level Labels
Obtaining and Running XSTAR
- XSTAR as Part of the FTOOLS Package
- XSTAR as a Standalone Package
- Subroutine XSTAR
- The XSTAR Web Site
Sample Results
- From ``Photoionization and High Density Plasmas'', T. Kallman and M. Bautista, June 2000, submitted to Ap. J.
- Sample Results: Low Density
- Sample Results: High Density
Sample Results, Continued
Revisions
- Version 2.1 (June 2000)
- Version v2.2.0 (November 2009)
Bibliography
About this document ...

Tim Kallman 2012-01-30