The scope of these working groups is to define standard procedures for the calibration of high-energy instrumentation in specific areas, such as: methodology, definition of calibration targets and requirements for future missions.
Particular emphasis is addressed to the definition of a set of “high-energy standard candles”, which can be used as reference for the calibration of past, present and future X-ray instruments. Each type of standard candle is intended to optimally address a specific parameter sub-space in the energy or timing domain. In this framework, the scope of these working groups is
- to agree on a “standard spectral model” for each of the high-energy standard candle
- to maintain a database of cross-calibration results on the high-energy standard candles
- to maintain a database of standard candle spectral data, through which any high-energy astronomers will be able to reproduce and gain confidence on the results produced by the IACHEC Working Groups
Active Working Groups
Calibration Statistics
A forum for the discussion of statistical, methodological, and algorithmic issues that affect the calibration of astronomical instruments, of how calibration data are used in data analysis, and how the analysis results are interpreted.
Clusters of Galaxies
Aims to use clusters of galaxies as cross-calibration standards, using a systematic comparison of X-ray spectroscopy results obtained with all recent and current major X-ray missions.
Communication
Aims to bring word of IACHECs activities and results to the greater astrophysical community
Contamination
It aims to understand the chemical composition, time dependence, and spatial variation of molecular contamination on all in-orbit instruments, and how such contamination can be mitigated for current and future missions.
Coordinated Observations
The goal of this working group is to facilitate the coordination of calibration observations among operational observatories and the analysis and publication of the corresponding data.
Detectors and Background
Provides a forum for cross-mission discussion and comparison of detector-specific modeling and calibration issues, and for measuring and modeling instrument background in the spatial, spectral, and temporal dimensions.
Heritage
We strive to prevent the corpus of knowledge and best practices accumulated by the IACHEC from vanishing in the mists of time, by preserving and documenting it.
High Resolution
It aims at a complete census of emission lines in high resolution observations made by the Chandra LEG/HEG and RGS, starting with the spectrum of Capella.
Non-thermal SNR
It aims at the cross-calibration analysis of G21.5-0.9 (mainly below 10 keV) and of the Crab (mainly above 10 keV) spectra.
Thermal SNR
Aims to use the time-invariant, line-rich spectra of the SNRs 1E 0102.2-7219 and N132D to improve the response models of the various instruments (gain, CTI correction, QE, spectral redistribution function, etc) Â and to compare the absolute effective areas of the instruments at the energies of the bright line complexes.
Timing
Provides a forum for in-orbit and on-ground timing calibrations, focusing on calibration discussions, issues, and lessons learned.
White Dwarf and Isolated Neutron Stars
It aims at comparing atmospheric models in conjunction with analysis of high-resolution data.
