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ACIS Observations taken at -110 C before 2000 January 29

Calibration | Reprocessing the Data | Imaging spectroscopy: creating RMFs

The ACIS focal plane temperature was lowered from -110 C (163 K) to -120 C (153 K) on 2000 January 29. While the CIAO threads are applicable to both temperatures, this document highlights details particular to analyzing data taken at -110 C before 2000 January 29.

The focal plane temperature and observation date are recorded in the header of the event file:

unix% dmkeypar acis_evt1.fits FP_TEMP echo+
163.952042

unix% dmkeypar acis_evt1.fits DATE-OBS echo+
1999-12-31T03:22:39

Calibration

There are gain files for -110 C observations taken before 2000 January 29, which are used to compute the PHA, ENERGY and PI values reported for the events. However:

there is no CTI Correction available before 2000 January 29
there is TGAIN calibration data for the ACIS-S1 (ccd_id=5) and S3 (ccd_id=7) back-illuminated chips only before 2000 January 29

Reprocessing the Data

The TGAIN calibration files for -110 C data taken before 2000 January 29 were released for the first time in CALDB 3.4.3 (31 March 2008).

The detector name and CALDB version used in standard data processing are recorded in the header of the event file:

unix% dmkeypar acis_evt1.fits DETNAM echo+
ACIS-456789

unix% dmkeypar acis_evt1.fits CALDBVER echo+
1.6

Since this is an older observation which uses both the S1 and S3 chips, it should be reprocessed to apply the TGAIN correction. Run the chandra_repro script or follow the Create a New Level=2 Event File thread apply the new calibration.

The tool will print a warning because the CTI calibration data does not exist for -110 C data taken before 2000 January 29:

unix% acis_process_events
Input event file or stack (acis_evt1.fits):
Output event file name (acis_new_evt1.fits):
aspect offset file ( NONE | none | <filename>) (pcad_asol1.fits):

# acis_process_events (CIAO 4.4): WARNING: problem reading ctifile,
cti adjustment will not be applied. Changing apply_cti=yes to apply_cti=no.

This is only a warning; the tool still produces a usable level=1 event file. Complete the rest of the thread to create a new level=2 event file.

Imaging spectroscopy: creating RMFs

Users have to choose which RMF tool to use based on which chip(s) are used in the analysis. Using the wrong tool will result in mismatched calibration and unreliable results.

Back-illuminated chips S1 and S3, with the TGAIN correction: use mkacisrmf.
Back-illuminated chips S1 and S3, without the TGAIN correction: use mkrmf.
Front-illuminated chips (I0-3, S0, S2, S4-5): always use mkrmf

For more information, refer to the mkacisrmf why topic.

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