NICER Data Analysis Threads

Introduction

This page gives links to short, step-by-step recipes which NICER called "threads." They are meant to be self-contained analysis tasks, with links to other threads where appropriate. The modification date of each thread listed in parentheses.

Additional analysis resources, such as software guides and caveats, can be found on our NICER Data Analysis page.

Setup and Data Preparation

• Accessing Data (2023-10-02) ★
• Setting Up a NICER Analysis Environment (2023-07-24) ★
• Using the nicerl2 high-level processing script with NICER data (2024-09-19) ★
• Release Notes for HEASoft 6.34 (2024-09-25) ★
• Using and downloading geomagnetic quantities for NICER analysis (2022-12-20)

Analysis: Spectra

• Complete Spectral Product Pipeline (nicerl3-spect) (2023-02-06) ★
• Step-by-step manual spectral analysis tasks
  • Manually Extracting NICER Spectra (2022-10-26)
  • Manually Applying QUALITY Flags (2022-10-26)
  • Manually Applying Spectral Systematic Errors (2022-12-08)
  • Manually applying optimal Binning (ftgrouppha) (2021-10-13)
  • NICER Responses (ARFs and RMFs) (2024-02-14)
  • Manually Estimating Backgrounds for your NICER spectrum (2024-07-19)
• NICER Response Common Issues (2022-04-28) ★
• What Residuals Plot Should I Use? (plot ratio) (2021-07-23)
• Simulating a NICER spectrum (2021-04-16)
• How to perform time resolved NICER spectroscopy (2023-07-19)
• Please also see our Analysis Tips & Caveats for more information on analysis issues

Analysis: Light Curves

• Complete Light Curve Product Pipeline (nicerl3-lc) (2024-02-28) ★
• Creating NICER Light Curves (2022-06-08)

Background Estimation

• SCORPEON Background Model
  • Overview of the SCORPEON Background Model (2024-07-19)
  • Using SCORPEON Models in XSPEC (2024-07-19)
  • SCORPEON Background Model Versions and Variants (2024-02-15)
• Manually Estimating NICER Backgrounds for your NICER spectrum (2024-07-19)
• NICER Background Estimator Tools (Partially Obsolete)

Filtering Data and Special Situations

• NICER Light Leak of May 22, 2023
  • Overview & Impacts (2024-01-25) ★
  • Analysis Recommendations (2024-02-16) ★
• Dealing with the "Noise Ringer" Noise Peak Tail (2023-08-01)
• Combining Multiple Observations (2024-01-16)
• Recognizing and Dealing with Non-X-Ray Flares (2024-02-14)
• How to perform time resolved NICER spectroscopy (2023-07-19)
• How to barycenter correct data and perform phase resolved spectroscopy (2024-01-30)
• Screening Data with FPM Selections (2024-10-31)
• ISS obstructions (2021-04-16)
• Please also see our Analysis Tips & Caveats for more information on filtering special situations

Calibration

• NICER Calibration Recommendation (2024-09-25) ★
• NICER gain calibration (2023-07-20)
• Timing calibration: see Definition of TIME in NICER Data files
• Please also see our Analysis Tips & Caveats for more information on calibration-related issues.

Reference Information

• Using the Sciserver virtual science platform to access and analyze NICER Data (2023-07-12)
• Common NICER Error Messages and How to Fix Them (2024-10-09)
• How to report NICER software and calibration versions (2024-09-25)
• What is FPM Selection Information? (2024-10-31)
• What is the difference between nifpmsel and niextract-events? (2021-07-19)
• What are Undershoots and Optical Loading? (2023-09-08)
• What are Overshoots? (2021-07-20)
• Definition of NICER Processing Levels (2022-10-19)
• Definition of TIME in NICER Data files (2021-08-12)
• What is in NICER filter files (2023-07-12)

Older / Obsolete Threads

• Release Notes for HEASoft 6.29 and CALDB xti20210707 (2021-07-20)
• Release Notes for HEASoft 6.30 (2022-04-25)
• Release Notes for HEASoft 6.31 / 6.31.1 (2022-12-20)
• Release Notes for HEASoft 6.32 (2023-08-23)
• MPU Autoscreening Bug in HEASoft 6.32 (2023-08-23)
• Release Notes for HEASoft 6.33.2 (2024-04-25)
• Obsolete: Creating NICER Spectra With Xselect (2022-10-26)
• Obsolete: NICER Precomputed Responses (2022-10-26)
• NICER Response Bug Fixes (2021-09-03)