[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Search] [Main Index] [Thread Index] [HEASARC Mailing List Archives]

GSFC XMM-Newton GOF Status Report # 158: XMM-NEWTON NEWS #78



_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
_/                                                                _/
_/            XMM-NEWTON NEWS #78   ---    03-Jul-2008            _/
_/                                                                _/
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

             XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre at
              ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre,
P.O. Box - Apdo. 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

SOC Home Page:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/
Helpdesk web interface:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/helpdesk.shtml
Helpdesk email address:
  xmmhelp@sciops.esa.int
News Mailing List:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_news/news_list/index.php

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

Contents:

 - Let us know about XMM-Newton related Ph.D.
 - Version 8.0 of the Science Analysis System (SAS) released


Let us know about XMM-Newton related Ph.D.
==========================================

The XMM-Newton team is collecting information about the completion
of doctorates and Ph.D. theses based on (or making use of)
XMM-Newton observations since the launch of the mission.

This information is one of the measures of the scientific impact of
XMM-Newton and represents an important support for the mission.
Ideally, it is our intention to collect the complete list of Ph.D.
works based on XMM-Newton data and this is why we need your help.

We would appreciate if you - being a candidate or supervisor of a
doctorate - could let us know the following details:

o Year of the thesis
o Candidate's name
o Supervisor's name
o Statement that the thesis is either based on, or making use of,
 XMM-Newton observations

Please contact us through the helpdesk at:

http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/helpdesk.shtml

or sending an e-mail to xmmhelp@sciops.esa.int, with Subject:
PRIVATE: Ph.D. thesis work, in case you want to flag your message
as private. The message can also be flagged as private using the
HelpDesk web interface. In any case, all provided information will
be handled confidentially.


Version 8.0 of the Science Analysis System (SAS) released
=========================================================

The XMM-Newton SAS team is pleased to announce the release of a new
version of the SAS: SAS 8.0

Binaries for diverse flavours of Linux, Solaris and MacOs are
available at:

http://xmm2.esac.esa.int/sas/8.0.0/download/

A virtual machine running on Microsoft Windows allowing to run
SAS 8.0 will be available soon.

The main improvements in this version with respect to the former
version, SAS 7.1.2, are:

- new task eslewchain for data reduction and source detection of
  slew data;
- new task epiclccorr for EPIC light curve background subtraction
  and exposure correction, valid both for PN and MOS in all user
  available modes;
- randomization of event times in EPIC-PN imaging modes within the
  frame duration performed by default, to avoid aliasing effects in
  light curves;
- new algorithm for better detection and correction of PN time
  jumps, including the possibility of the user defined
  SAS_JUMP_THRESHOLD environment variable;
- RGS alternative analysis based on a wavelength grid, offered in
  this version as non default, making possible the absolute
  alignment of spectra from different RGSs, orders and
  observations. Please note that tasks dealing with combination of
  several spectra, like rgsfluxer and rgscombine, still need some
  upgrading for working always with wavelength grid obtained
  spectra;
- refined OM astrometry, improved OM source detection and flagging,
  all changes needed for the OM sources catalogue production;
- improvement of OM mosaicing of imaging data by using the
  astrometric correction of the single images;
- improvement of OM grism performance for crowded fields;
- analysis of OM FAST mode images, introducing detection of
  possible modulo-8 and coincidence loss corruption.


In addition, a number of improvements in the calibration areas of
the different instruments have been made, as follows:

EPIC

- new task epfast, for column and rate dependent CTI and gain
  correction on PN timing and burst modes. The calibration of this
  correction is still ongoing and therefore the current calibration
  file (CCF) has coefficients set to unity such that no correction
  is performed. The update is expected in due course;
- inclusion of a 2-dimensional elliptical Point Spread Function
  (PSF) for a more accurate off-axis correction of the integrated
  encircled energy fraction, maintained as non-default until
  calibration finished and the necessary CCF gets populated. Until
  then, elliptical regions cannot be used to extract spectra from
  point sources. The update is expected in due course;

OM

- use of current calibration file OM_PHOTONNAT_0004.CCF for
  computing time-dependent photocathode sensitivity correction
  factors making possible their update at any time.


For further details on SAS 8.0 please visit the SAS Pages at:

http://xmm.esac.esa.int/sas/



Yours sincerely,
XMM-Newton SOC

_______________________________________________
XMM-NEWS mailing list
XMM-NEWS@sciops.esa.int
http://xmm.esac.esa.int/mailman/listinfo/xmm-news

================================================================================================
This message and any attachments are intended for the use of the addressee or addressees only. The
unauthorised disclosure, use, dissemination or copying (either in whole or in part) of its content
is prohibited. If you received this message in error, please delete it from your system and notify
the sender. E-mails can be altered and their integrity cannot be guaranteed. ESA shall not be liable
for any e-mail if modified.
=================================================================================================

----- End forwarded message -----
A service of the XMM-Newton GOF, NASA/GSFC

Please do not reply to this email.
Questions or comments should go to:
http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/Feedback