XMM-Newton Extended Source Analysis Software

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The XMM-Newton Extended Source Analysis Software package (XMM-ESAS) is developed at the NASA/GSFC XMM-Newton Guest Observer Facility (GOF) in cooperation with the XMM-Newton SOC and the Background Working Group.

XMM-ESAS allows the user to model the quiescent particle background for both spectral and spatial analysis of EPIC MOS observations. It produces background spectra for user-defined regions of the detectors and background images. The output files are FITS standard and can be used in spectral fitting packages (e.g., Xspec) or with FITS image display software (e.g., fv or ds9).

XMM-ESAS is based on the software used for the background modelling described in Snowden, Collier & Kuntz (2004, ApJ, 610, 1182).

The XMM-ESAS package is integrated in SAS, as of version 9.0. XMM-ESAS only supports the analysis of MOS observations; an extension to support pn observations is expected later in 2010. XMM-ESAS documentation can be found at the SAS Package documentation web pages:

     http://xmm.esac.esa.int/sas/current/doc/esas/index.html

or at the SAS Portal web pages:

     http://xmm.esac.esa.int/sas/current/howtousesas.shtml


For XMM-ESAS related questions, please contact the XMM-Newton Helpdesk through the following page

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

Suggestions for improving the software or documentation are also welcome.