XMM-Newton Users Handbook

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Next: 3.3.12.3 Count rate conversion from other X-ray satellite missions Up: 3.3.12 EPIC-specific proposal submission information Previous: 3.3.12.1 EPIC spectral quality


3.3.12.2 EPIC flux to count rate conversion

The following set of figures (Figs. 49-75) provides EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors for a variety of standard spectral models, for each camera type (pn and MOS), with the thin, medium and thick optical blocking filters. Families of curves for various values of the foreground absorbing column density, $N_H$, are plotted. Both the (unabsorbed) fluxes (i.e., after taking into account the attenuation by the foreground gas) and the count rates are calculated for the 0.2-12 keV band.

Note that these plots are based on the most recent canned response matrices and effective area files using SAS 21.0.

The order of the plots is:

  1. Power law models

  2. Thermal plasma (mekal) models with solar metallicities

  3. Black body models

For each model type, three pn camera plots are shown first (thin, medium and thick filter, in that order), then six MOS plots.

Note: Plots in the previous and in this section are presented only as a quick-look reference. Users are strongly advised to estimate the expected count rates and spectra for their sources through proper simulations via, e.g. the command fakeit in XSPEC. The most updated EPIC response matrices should be used for this purpose.

Figure 49: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode %\epsfig{height=0.56\hsize, file=figs... ...height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_thin_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 50: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_medium_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 51: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_thick_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 52: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_thin_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 53: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_medium_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 54: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_thick_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 55: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_thin_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 56: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_medium_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 57: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various power law spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_thick_powerlaw.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 58: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_thin_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 59: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_medium_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 60: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_thick_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 61: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_thin_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 62: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_medium_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 63: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_thick_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 64: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_thin_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 65: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_medium_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 66: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various mekal spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_thick_mekal.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 67: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_thin_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 68: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_medium_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 69: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for pn camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/pn_e3_thick_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 70: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_thin_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 71: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_medium_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 72: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS1 camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m1_e15_thick_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 73: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thin filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_thin_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 74: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (medium filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_medium_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

Figure 75: EPIC flux to count rate conversion factors (in units of 10$^{11}$ counts erg$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$) for MOS2 camera for various black body spectra and for different values of the absorbing column density, $N_H$ (thick filter).
\begin{figure}\begin{center} \leavevmode \epsfig{height=0.99\hsize, file=figs/m2_e15_thick_bb.ps} \end{center} \end{figure}

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Next: 3.3.12.3 Count rate conversion from other X-ray satellite missions Up: 3.3.12 EPIC-specific proposal submission information Previous: 3.3.12.1 EPIC spectral quality
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