Free access article



A&A 409, 395-410 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20031099

The XMM-Newton EPIC background: Production of background maps and event files

A. M. Read^{1, 2} and T. J. Ponman<sup>1

1</sup>  School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
²  Deptartment of Physics and Astronomy, Leicester University, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK

(Received 9 April 2003 / Accepted 11 July 2003)

Abstract
XMM-Newton background maps for the 3 EPIC instruments in their different instrument/mode/filter combinations and in several energy bands have been constructed using a superposition of 72 pointed observations. Event datasets, with point sources excised, for the different instrument/mode/filter combinations have also been assembled, with longer exposure times than previously available files. The construction of the background maps and event files, together with their properties and usage are described here. Also given are statistical properties of the photon and particle components of the XMM-Newton EPIC background, based on the analysis of the 72 datasets.

Key words: surveys -- X-rays: diffuse background -- X-rays: general

Offprint request: A. M. Read, amr30@star.le.ac.uk

© ESO 2003

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