Version 22.0: April 3, 2025

COOKBOOK FOR ANALYSIS PROCEDURES FOR XMM-NEWTON
EPIC OBSERVATIONS OF EXTENDED OBJECTS AND THE
DIFFUSE BACKGROUND

Updated for SAS Version 22.0
Questions and Problems Should Be Sent to xmmhelp@athena.gsfc.nasa.gov

S. L. SNOWDEN

Formerly: Code 662, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Currently: Retired and Enjoying Life to its Fullest

AND

K. D. KUNTZ

Currently: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
Futurely: Beginning to Think about Retirement
kkuntz1@jhu.edu

ABSTRACT

The following manual/cookbook is for the use of the XMM-Newton Extended Source Analysis Software (XMM-ESAS, or just ESAS) suite of packages for the analysis of imaging mode EPIC MOS and pn observations. ESAS creates both model quiescent particle background spectra for use in spectral fitting and exposure-corrected, background-subtracted (particle, soft proton, and solar wind charge exchange) images. The spectra and images are produced for user-defined regions within an observation field of view. The output files are in standard FITS format. Software for mosaicking multiple observations of not necessarily co-aligned pointings is included in this package.

Very few significant changes have been made with this release. A new method of constructing the quiescent particle background spectra will arrive with SAS V23.0.

We would like to thank members of the MOS and pn hardware and software teams, the XMM-Newton SOC at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), and other members of the EPIC Background Working Group for their contributions that ranged from helping us to understand instrument and software issues to the identification of filter-wheel closed observations in the archive. Carlos Gabriel and Aitor Ibarra of the SOC and Brendan Perry of the NASA GOF deserve special thanks for their efforts in converting XMM-ESAS routines into SAS tasks. Ignacio de la Calle Pérez also deserves our thanks for being the point person at the SOC for responding to users' questions about ESAS. We would also like to thank the many users that have provided comments that have been used to improve this software. Suggestions and comments are always welcome.

Users of this package should be aware of the informational web pages covering the background issues of EPIC observations at: http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/background and the EPIC Calibration Status document at: http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/calibration.