By default, rgsproc calculates a single spectrum per RGS per order per observation even though variability is a common property of many X-ray sources. A prototype dedicated rgslccorr task has been released in SAS v7.1 to allow users to create RGS light curves from the same spectral and background selection regions that are used to generate spectra. It uses event and source-list files to calculate background and dead-time corrections to produce light-curves defined by parameters such as time bin size; start and stop time; and and spectral order. RGS1 and RGS2 data may also be combined into a single light curve. The XMM-SOC would be happy ro receive any comments or suggestions about this task.
Otherwise, the RGS variability of both source and background may be checked by generating lightcurves using xmmselect's [OGIP Rate Curve] button with suitable source and background selection criteria. Source counts can be selected with the same criteria stored in the source list used to generate spectra.
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Fig. 33, for example, shows the variable count rate of Mkn421 of events within the 3-D 1st order source spectrum selection region as follows:
((BETA_CORR,PI) IN REGION(P0136540101R2S002SRCLI_0000.FIT:RGS2_SRC3_ORDER_1))
&& ((BETA_CORR,XDSP_CORR) IN
REGION(P0136540101R2S002SRCLI_0000.FIT:RGS2_SRC3_SPATIAL))