The XMM-Newton EPIC background and the production of background blank sky event files
Abstract
Aims:We describe in detail the nature of XMM-Newton EPIC background and its various complex components, summarising the new findings of the XMM-Newton EPIC background working group, and provide XMM-Newton background blank sky event files for use in the data analysis of diffuse and extended sources.
Methods: Blank sky event file data sets are produced from the stacking of data, taken from 189 observations resulting from the Second XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue (2XMMp) reprocessing. The data underwent several filtering steps, using a revised and improved method over previous work, which we describe in detail.
Results: We investigate several properties of the final blank sky data sets. The user is directed to the location of the final data sets. There is a final data set for each EPIC instrument-filter-mode combination.
- Publication:
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Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- March 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361:20065882
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0701209
- Bibcode:
- 2007A&A...464.1155C
- Keywords:
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- methods: data analysis;
- X-rays: diffuse background;
- X-rays: general;
- instrumentation: detectors;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Paper accepted by A&