XMM-Newton Data Files Handbook

4.2 EPIC Radiation Monitor archive

In addition to the ERM files that are present in each ODF/SDF directory (see Sect. 4.1.9), an archive of all ERM files can be used to extract radiation data for any period of time without the need to access the corresponding ODF/SDF directories. This set of data is planned to be part of the XMM-Newton Science Archive (XSA). At this time, the data are available via a dedicated web page
http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/radmon

For each XMM-Newton revolution there will be a compressed tarball file (radmon_RRRR.tar.gz) containing the following information:

1. Up to 4 files containing the Radiation Monitor data gathered during the revolution RRRR. These ERM files have table columns as described in Sect. 4.1.9, but in addition have been time correlated with the available Fitted Time Correlation data (see below).
   The files are named RRRR_SPED_EME.FIT where
   • RRRR = revolution number
   • SPED = Speed (FAST or SLOW)
   • EME = Mode (ESE for spectra Mode or ECE for Counting mode)
   For instance: 1278_FAST_ESE.FIT, 0679_SLOW_ECE.FIT, ect.
   

   The Radiation Monitor files contain, in addition to the standard XMM-Newton time column, extra columns providing the correlated time in UT and MJD formats (see Appendix A of the Data Files Handbook for details on the time systems).

2. RRRR_orbit.FIT This file is the result of the SAS orbit task executed with a sample interval of 1 sec and making use of the Reconstructed Orbit (not the Predicted Orbit) data.

3. RTX_RRRR_VVVV.FIT This file is the Fitted Time Correlation file for revolution RRRR (VVVV indicating the file version). It has been used to correlate the Radiation Monitor data frame counter with time.

4. Raw Attitude File (RAF) RRRR_VVVV.RAF.tgz This (compressed ASCII) file contains the Raw Attitude for the given revolution. The format of this file is the same as that of the *SC*RAS.ASC file described in Table 27 (see Sect. 4.1.11).