Description
Modern x-ray data, available through online archives, are important for many astronomical topics. However, using these data requires specialized techniques and software. Written for graduate students, professional astronomers and researchers who want to start working in this field, this book is a practical guide to x-ray astronomy. The handbook begins with x-ray optics, basic detector physics and CCDs, before focussing on data analysis. It introduces the reduction and calibration of x-ray data, scientific analysis, archives, statistical issues and the particular problems of highly extended sources. The book describes the main hardware used in x-ray astronomy, emphasizing the implications for data analysis. The concepts behind common x-ray astronomy data analysis software are explained. The appendices present reference material often required during data analysis.
Chapter
1.3.2 Wolter's configurations
1.3.3 Scattering of X-rays
1.3.5 Multi-layer mirrors
1.5 The future of X-ray optics
2.2 Proportional counters
2.2.3 Energy resolution and the Fano factor
2.2.4 Spectral response and escape
2.2.5 Dead time and bright sources
2.2.6 Position sensitivity and background rejection
2.3 Gas scintillation proportional counters
3.2 Basic principles and operation
3.2.1 Photoelectric absorption
3.3.2 Energy scale and spectral resolution
3.3.3 Low-energy efficiency and back-illumination
3.4.1 Bright sources: pileup and readout streak
3.4.2 Radiation damage and charge-transfer inefficiency
3.4.5 Micrometeoroid damage
4 Data reduction and calibration
4.1.1 Calculation of sky position
4.1.2 Calculation of grade
4.1.3 Calculation of energy or wavelength
4.1.4 Calculation of time
4.1.5 Non-X-ray background rejection
4.2.2 Hot spots, bad rows, flickering pixels, and afterglows
4.3 Selecting events of interest
4.3.5 By spectral channels
4.3.7 By auxiliary criteria
4.4 Extracting analysis products
5.2 Low-resolution spectral analysis
5.2.3 Models (and sources)
5.2.4 Practical considerations
5.2.4.1 Local minimization
5.2.4.2 Global minimization
5.2.4.3 Spectra with few counts
5.2.4.4 Dealing with background
5.2.5 A fully worked example: XMM–Newtonobservations of Abell 1795
5.3 High-resolution spectral analysis
5.3.2 Example: line broadening in Abell 3112
5.4.2 Source characterization
5.5.1 Testing for variability
5.5.3 Searching for (quasi-)periodic signals
5.5.4 Variability estimates when writing proposals
6 Archives, surveys, catalogs, and software
6.1.4 Other archives and mirrors
6.1.5 Virtual observatory (VO)
6.2.1 ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS)
6.2.2 ROSAT point-source catalogs
6.2.3 ROSAT cluster catalogs
6.2.4 Chandra source catalogs
6.2.5 Chandra extragalactic surveys
6.2.6 Chandra Galactic center survey
6.2.7 Chandra catalog of types of object
6.2.8 Chandra grating observation catalogs
6.2.9 XMM–Newton source catalogs
6.2.10 XMM–Newton extragalactic surveys
6.2.11 XMM–Newton catalogs of types of object
6.3.2 Software to manipulate event files
6.3.3 Imaging-analysis software
6.3.4 Spectral-analysis software
6.3.5 Timing-analysis software
7.2 The statistical underpinning of X-ray data analysis
7.3 Probability distributions
7.4 Parameter estimation and maximum likelihood
7.4.3 Likelihood and Bayesian posterior probability
7.6 Hypothesis testing and model selection
7.6.2 Model selection: likelihood ratio test
7.7.2 Source detection and upper limits
7.7.3 Background subtraction
7.7.5 Systematic errors, calibration, and model uncertainties
8.2 Backgrounds and foregrounds
8.2.1 Instrumental backgrounds
Appendix 1: X-ray lines and edges
A1.1 Spectroscopic notation
A1.1.1 Describing line emission
Appendix 2: Conversion tables
A2.2 Useful astrophysical values
Appendix 3: Typical X-ray sources
Appendix 4: Major X-ray satellites
Appendix 5: Astrostatistics
Handbook of X-ray Astronomy
( Cambridge Observing Handbooks for Research Astronomers )
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