XMM-Newton Science Analysis System: User Guide

5.17 Use of rgslccorr

By default, rgsproc calculates a single spectrum per RGS per order per observation even though variability is a common property of many X-ray sources. The task rgslccorr allows users to produce background-subtracted and exposure-corrected RGS light curves from the same spectral and background selection regions that are used to generate spectra. It is possible to generate light curves without background subtraction through the use of the parameter withbkgsubtraction. rgsproc uses event and source-list files to calculate background and dead-time corrections to produce light curves defined by parameters such as time bin size, start and stop time, and spectral order. Combined light curves are possible of simultaneous RGS1 and RGS2 data.

Fig. 48 shows a comparison of RGS light curves versus the corresponding EPIC-pn light curve.

Figure 48: Comparison of RGS and PN corrected light curves.