XMM-Newton EPIC Response Files Page
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Downloads
The most recent Canned Response Matrices can be downloaded here (please refer to "Update 2012-06-29"). Please carefully read the notes below before retrieving and using the files.Canned response matrices
General Information
The PN canned response matrices are available for spectra selected from single-pixel events only, doubles only and single+doubles combined, with event threshold 20 adu (100 eV) for most observing modes. This allows one to make use of the additional signal-to-noise improvement with double event patterns. However the user should be warned to compare spectral fitting results with and without the double events, as the effects of pile-up can make the results a little variable.These files have filenames of the form;
| epn_ff20_sY9_<ver>.rmf | for singles, where ver is the version number, eg; v6.9 |
| epn_ff20_dY9_<ver>.rmf | for doubles, where ver is the version number, eg; v6.9 |
| epn_ff20_sdY9_<ver>.rmf | singles plus doubles, where ver is the version number, eg; v6.9 |
For the PN the responses are provided at intervals of CCD 20 rows, due to changing energy resolution from charge transfer effects. That is, a nomenclature Y0 can be used from rows 1-20, and Y9 from rows 181-200 (i.e. on-axis).
- Y0 CCD lines 1-20 (i.e farthest from centre)
- Y1 CCD lines 21-40
- ...
- Y9 CCD lines 181-200 (i.e. nearest centre)
- ff - fullframe mode
- ef - extended full frame mode
- sw - small window mode
- lw - large window mode
- ti - timing mode
- bu - burst mode
Although since SAS 6.5 no ready-made MOS response files are provided (see "Update 2005-12-15"), for the purposes of the feasibility study of XMM-Newton proposals, a limited set of MOS response files have been made available. These files are available for the full frame mode and 13 different epochs, for:
- MOS1 and MOS2
- pattern 0 and pattern 0-12 matrices
- imaging or timing
- on-patch, wings of patch and off-patch
positions. Details on the three RMF regions are given in the
"EPIC
Status of Calibration and Data Analysis Document"
| The new EPIC-MOS files follow the nomenclature: | |||||||||||
| <camera>_<epoch>_<mode>_<patterns>_<position>.rmf |
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| For example; | |||||||||||
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m1_e6_im_p0_w.rmf m2_e12_tu_pall_o.rmf |
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Note: MOS response files before SAS 6.5 had a different nomenclature as the one listed above (see "Update 2005-12-15").
Note: MOS response files before SAS 11.0 had a different nomenclature as the one listed above (see "Update 2011-04-12").
Pipeline Produced Matrices
The source spectra produced by the pipeline refer to a set of canned matrices (please refer to "Update 2006-02-16"). These matrices are the latest available at the time of the pipeline processing, and may be used for performing spectral analysis with the following caveat:- MOS spectra of sources which are within 1 arcminute of the boresight of the MOS cameras (normally the target of the observation) experience a redistribution which is highly dependent upon the exact position of the source and the size of the extraction region. An accurate analysis of such sources should use a redistribution matrix produced by the task rmfgen. Using a canned matrix in this case may introduce large errors below 1 keV (please refer to "Update 2005-12-15").