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New in version 12.15.1

New models

  • fekblor, bfekblor, zbfekblor: four Lorentzian high-resolution model for the Fe Kbeta line.

  • rsapec, rsvapec, rsvvapec: apec models with line broadening and resonance scattering out of the beam.

  • rsgauss: a gaussian model with a resonance scattering optical depth parameter - mainly for testing purposes.

  • rsrnei, rsvrnei, rsvvrnei: versions of the rnei model with resonance scattering out of the beam.

Modifications to models

  • In the NEI models, the eigenvector file which is used to calculate ion fractions can be changed using xset APECEIGENFILE. (Note that NEIAPECROOT and NEIVERS now do the same thing and the former is preferred).

  • Updated xilconv to use version of 5 of the xillver file and added option to set the version number.

  • Added option to set model data directory in the Xspec.init file with eg MDATADIR: /my/directory/path

  • Use the Xspec.init information to set APECROOT, SPEXROOT, and NEIAPECROOT.

  • Simplified the general code to calculate line shapes to avoid some occasional problems - now no longer uses the input crtLevel or the xset LINECRITLEVEL value.

Other

  • Added tclout xset name option to get the values of any model strings set by xset.

  • Clarified questions asked by fakeit command.

  • Replaced the use of cfortran.h with modern f90 to link C and Fortran. This may require changes in local models written in Fortran to add "use xsfortran" and/or "use xsfortfuncwrappers".

  • Added Planck's constant and the classical electron radius (in cgs) to Numerics.h - required to calculate resonant scattering. Modified BinarySearch.cxx so that the input y array does not have to be in ascending order (although the routine will run faster if it is).

  • New "latest" option for the Xspec.init settings for ATOMDB_VERSION, SPEX_VERSION, NEI_VERSION. Setting these to "latest" ensures Xspec will select the most recent atomdb files.

Fixes

  • All fixes that were included with patch releases 12.5.0a-f

  • An array access error in the "ismdust" model.

  • NaNs appearing for a corner-case of background subtraction.