This repository contains Python modules for generating realistic simulations of XMM-Newton imaging observations using SIXTE (SImulation of X-ray TElescopes; Dauser et al. 2019).
The standard distribution of SIXTE includes a basic instrumental model for the
XMM-Newton cameras that consists of only a single CCD. We have therefore extended
this model by defining new instrumental files for all CCDs in each camera. We provide
a Jupyter Notebook in epic_xmm_files showing
how to create this instrumental files. The vignneting behaviour and realistic
particle backgrounds are also included. The final event files produced by SIXTE for
each CCD are merged and modified so they can be processed further using XMM-Newton
Science Analysis System tasks.
We also provided tools for including the astrophysical background, constant and transient sources, and full source catalogues in the simulations. Check the example scripts for learning how to use these tools.
The main motivation for developing this tools was the creation of a large set of simulations used to characterize the performance of the STATiX source detection pipeline (Ruiz et al. 2023, in preparation). Check the paper for a detailed explanation of the full setup of these simulations.
SIXTE and SAS has to be installed in your system and initilized for using these tools. The following Python packages are also needed:
- astropy
- numpy
- sixty
- pxsas
- mocpy
