XMM-Newton-NEWS

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XMM-Newton-NEWS  #138,    03-Aug-2012

XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre at
ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre,
P.O. Box - Apdo. 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain

SOC Home Page:	http://xmm.esac.esa.int/
Helpdesk web interface:	http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/helpdesk.shtml
Helpdesk email address:	xmmhelp@sciops.esa.int
News Mailing List:	http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_news/news_list/index.php

Contents:

• SAS Users Guide and related documentation updated
• Update of the EPIC Calibration Status Document
• STScI Initiative "Deep Fields: Beyond the HUDF"

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SAS Users Guide and related documentation updated

The Users Guide to the XMM-Newton Science Analysis System has been updated for SAS version 12.0 in order to include the latest information on data analysis methods and updated SAS tasks.

The guide is available from the XMM-Newton Proposers Info Documents and Manuals Web page (Section: Data Analysis) at:

     http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/documentation/

The html version of the SAS Users Guide can directly be accessed under
     http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/documentation/sas_usg/USG/

We remind that the XMM-Newton SOC provides additional information on the XMM-Newton data analysis through dedicated web pages, which have also been updated for SAS 12 and which are regularly updated when needed, in particular the third one below (SAS watchouts),

• a repository of "SAS Threads", which are command recipes intended to help users to reduce and analyse XMM-Newton data. They cover from the basic system set-up to more complex instrument specific topics. The threads can be found at:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/sas/current/documentation/threads/


• the "SAS Inverse Index", that allows users to identify individual SAS tasks, or groups of tasks, needed to be executed in order to perform a given scientific analysis job. The index can be found at:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/sas/current/sas_inverse_index/sas_inverse_index.shtml


• "SAS watchout pages", where important issues concerning SAS and XMM-Newton data analysis are collected, along with recommended workarounds and/or solutions, as well as useful tricks and tips, at:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/sas/current/watchout/

Update of the EPIC Calibration Status Document

The EPIC Calibration Status Document

     http://xmm2.esac.esa.int/docs/documents/CAL-TN-0018.pdf

has been updated to reflect the status as implemented in SASv12 and in the calibration files released alongside it. The main changes with respect to the previous version describe:

• the effect of the new SAS task epspatialcti to calculate a spatially-dependent gain correction in EPIC-pn
• the implementation of the "time-variable boresight" concept
• the ELLBETA PSF model as default in the SAS
• an update of EPIC-pn Long-Term CTI calibration

as well as routine updates of instrument monitoring results as far as resolution, accuracy of the energy reconstruction, and relative/absolute timing accuracy are concerned.

STScI Initiative "Deep Fields: Beyond the HUDF"

The Space Telescope Science Institute is soliciting input from the community on a potentially important new initiative

     "Deep Fields: Beyond the HUDF"

that can be addressed by the Hubble Space Telescope in future cycles. One difference compared to previous HDF/HUDFs is that this time coordination across a number of major space observatories is being attempted. One such observatory is XMM-Newton. Please note that no decisions in any direction have been taken and that each observatory will decide for itself based on its own rules. Interested individuals/groups in the XMM-Newton community may wish to participate in the formulation of the science case in general, and for a possible XMM-Newton participation in particular. If you want to contribute to the formulation of the science case, please consult

     http://www.stsci.edu/hst/HST_overview/deep-fields-20120718

Input should be sent to the (Hubble) Deep Fields Working Group at with copy to XMM-Newton Project Scientist ( ).
The deadline for this input is 31 August 2012.


Yours sincerely,
XMM-Newton SOC