The ABC of XTE: Contents

• Introduction

  Postscript version of this chapter

  • Scope
  • RXTE Data Reduction: The Basic Scheme
  • How this Guide is Organized and How to Use it
    • The Overall Scheme
    • The Order and Arrangement of Chapters
    • How to Use this Guide
  • Obtaining Help and Information, Reporting Bugs, Submitting Comments, Receiving Updates
    • Xtehelp
    • Xtenews
  • Footnote: Comparison with ASCA Data Reduction

• Data Files

  Postscript version of this chapter

  • Introduction
  • FITS Files
    • Basic Structure
    • Useful Ftools for Examining FITS Files
    • Important Timing Keywords in the Primary Header
  • Science Array Files
    • Basic Structure
    • The XTE_SA Extension
    • The Two GTI Extensions
  • Science Event Files
    • Basic Structure
    • The XTE_SE Extension
    • The Two GTI Extensions
  • Filter Files
    • Properties
    • How to Make a Filter File
  • Footnote: DDL: Data Description Language
  • Footnote: EDS Flags and Coda

• PCA Issues

  Postscript version of this chapter

  • Introduction
  • PCA & EDS: Structure and Properties
    • PCA Structure
    • PCA Properties
    • What PCA Data Are Like Before Being Packaged By The EDS
    • EDS Structure and Operation
  • EDS Configurations
    • EDS Modes
    • Event Encoded mode
      • Generic event, e.g. E_31us_16M_50_1s
      • Good Xenon
      • Transparent
    • Binned Data mode
      • Generic binned, e.g. B_250ms_128M_0_254
      • Standard 1
      • Standard 2
    • Single-Bit Configurations
    • Burst Catcher mode
      • Event Burst Catcher, e.g. CE_1us_1M_0
      • Binned Burst Catcher, e.g. CB_2ms_64M_0_249
    • Delta-Binned Configurations
    • Fast Fourier Transform Configurations
    • Pulsar Fold configurations

• HEXTE Issues

  Postscript version of this chapter

  • Introduction
  • HEXTE Structure, Operation and Properties
    • HEXTE Structure and Operations
    • HEXTE Properties
    • What HEXTE Data Are Like Before Being Packaged for Telemetry
  • HEXTE Modes and Configurations
    • Archive Mode
    • Event List Mode
    • Histogram Bin Mode
    • Multiscalar Bin Mode
    • Burst List Mode

• Screening

  Postscript version of this chapter

  • Introduction
  • Screening Criteria
    • Current List of Screening Criteria and Corresponding Columns in the Filter File
  • Plotting the Filter File
  • Creating GTI

• Extracting Light Curves and Spectra

  N.B. This chapter is under revision

  Postscript version of this chapter

  • Introduction
  • Time Selections
    • Creating Start and Stop Times from Light Curves
    • Creating GTI
  • Extracting Science Array Data
    • Example: Creating a Light Curve from PCA Standard-2 Data
    • Explanation of Various Inputs in the Example above
    • Data Reduction Scenarios: Using Saextrct
  • Extracting Science Event Data
    • Defining Bitmasks with Sefilter
    • Example: Creating a Curve from PCA E_1ms_128M_0_8s Data
    • Explanation of Various Inputs in the Example above
  • Footnote: HEXTE Cluster Position

• A Time Tutorial

  Postscript version of this chapter

  • Introduction
  • Time and Date Systems
  • Useful Relations
  • Other Useful Formulae
  • RXTE FITS Tables
  • Table: Difference between TAI and UTC