ASCA Raytrace Simulation

Overview

trace_asca is an ASCA simulator written in C++, with some C and Fortran libraries linked in as well. A limited version of the simulator is also available in IDL. The raytracing is based on Pete Serlemitsos' IDL raytrace routine trace2.pro (see a prelimenary comparison of simulations with 3C273 PV S0 and G2 data. These plots are out of date... currently the uncertainty in the PSF used by trace_asca is around 10%). A compiled exectuable is availble for DEC Alphas. The major features are:

All four ASCA instruments can be simulated
The output is a FITS events list readable by XSELECT, etc.
An ARF appropriate for extended sources can be computed, output in a FITS file readable by XSPEC
Multiple sources each with a unique spectral and spatial model can be simulated.
The spectrum of each "source" can be either a power-law or a brem. with cold absorption and gaussian lines.
The spatial distribution of each source can be a point, described by a FITS image, or described by one of the following analytic functions: rectangle, ellipse, Gaussian or (cluster) beta-model.
The C Curses library is used to impliment a screen-oriented interface so that the program is menu-driven and parameters input is done with forms, as shown below. The screen interface also allows the simulation parameters to be monitored in the course of the simulation. Future versions may impliment a GUI interface but the Curses library has the advantage of running on any VT100 (or better) terminal.
trace_asca can be submitted as an "at" job to run in the background.

Main Menu
Source Description Form
Simulation Status

Note that while this simulator can be used to check the ASCA calibration, my motivation was to create a tool for extended source analysis. Anyone interested in raytrace calibration of the XRT response should look at Keith Gendreau's XRT page.

Caveat Emptor: this program is not officially part of the ASCA GOF.

Return to Andy Ptak's WWW page.

Contact ptak@pha.jhu.edu for more info.

This page was last modified on Thursday, 19-Dec-2002 11:57:04 EST.