Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T09:34:20.459Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Using the Gregory-Loredo Algorithm for the Detection of Variability in the Chandra Source Catalog

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2012

Arnold H. Rots*
Affiliation:
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. email: arots@head.cfa.harvard.edu
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In searching for a reliable variability indicator for Chandra X-ray event data, we implemented the Gregory-Loredo (G–L) algorithm to assess variability and to generate light curves for the Chandra Source Catalog. A test was performed on 118 sources detected in a single observation, spanning the intensity range 5–24,000 photons over a total observing time of 102,000 sec. We conclude that the G–L algorithm is extremely robust, yielding both a reliable variability indicator and light curves with optimal resolution, while requiring a very modest amount of CPU time. The algorithm can also work on binned data, and is capable of handling data gaps as well as variations in effective area.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2012

References

Rots, A. H., et al. , 2010, ApJS, 189, 37Google Scholar
Gregory, P. C. & Loredo, T. J. 1992, ApJ, 398, 146CrossRefGoogle Scholar