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Monte Carlo Methods for X-ray Dispersive Spectrometers

J. R. Peterson·J. G. Jernigan·S. M. Kahn
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Abstract

We discuss multivariate Monte Carlo methods appropriate for X-ray dispersive spectrometers. Dispersive spectrometers have many advantages for high resolution spectroscopy in the X-ray band. Analysis of data from these instruments is complicated by the fact that the instrument response functions are multi-dimensional and relatively few X-ray photons are detected from astrophysical sources. Monte Carlo methods are the natural solution to these challenges, but techniques for their use are not well developed. We describe a number of methods to produce a highly efficient and flexible multivariate Monte Carlo. These techniques include multi-dimensional response interpolation and multi-dimensional event comparison. We discuss how these methods have been extensively used in the XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer in-flight calibration program. We also show several examples of a Monte Carlo applied to observations of clusters of galaxies and elliptical galaxies with the XMM-Newton observatory.

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J. R. Peterson, J. G. Jernigan, S. M. Kahn. 2002-10-30. Monte Carlo Methods for X-ray Dispersive Spectrometers. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0210664

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