XMM-Newton Science Analysis System: User Guide

1 Introduction

The purpose of this document is to guide and help the user with XMM-Newton data reduction. Data for a given XMM-Newton observation comprise a large number of products, mainly the raw and calibrated event files of the instruments on-board XMM-Newton: the European Photon Imaging Cameras (EPIC), the Reflection Grating Spectrometers (RGS) and the Optical Monitor (OM).

Full analysis of XMM-Newton data includes a quick look analysis of the raw data, calibration of raw event datasets, screening of calibrated data, extraction of images and spectra, extraction of time series, source detection and scientific analysis of the calibrated products. A large fraction of these tasks has to be conducted with the XMM-Newton Scientific Analysis System (SAS), the main analysis tool for XMM-Newton data reduction. SAS has been developed by a team of scientists located at ESA's XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre (SOC) and at the XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre (SSC). All the information available on the latest SAS version can always be found in the SAS Web Portal located at the following URL:

http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/sas

Any kind of problem or general question regarding SAS should be reported to the XMM-Newton HelpDesk:

http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk