This session is meant to fit and simulate spectra from microcalorimeter data. This afternoon, we first fit an Hitomi cluster spectrum and then we simulate an Athena X-IFU spectrum using the Hitomi best fit model.
The files hitomi-sxs.res and hitomi-sxs.spo below contain an Hitomi spectrum of the Perseus cluster. With the experience that you obtained during the school, try to fit the spectrum and find the best fit model. What parameters can you fit now that could not be fitted before?
Using your best fit model of the Hitomi Perseus cluster, create a simulated spectrum for the XIFU instrument aboard Athena. How much improvement can we expect with Athena with respect to Hitomi for the most interesting fit parameters?
Hint: The SPEX command 'simulate' can be used to generate a spectrum based on a spectral model. You will need a spo and res file containing the instrument properties of Athena XIFU. See below:
Note: The spo file contains a dummy spectrum. A spectral simulation will replace this spectrum in the computer memory.