Nustar - Revision history

Berger at 13:48, 14 January 2026

2026-01-14T13:48:21Z

Thalhammer at 13:11, 2 October 2023

2023-10-02T13:11:04Z

Thalhammer: /* Bright sources = */

2023-06-16T08:56:29Z

Bright sources =

Thalhammer: Note on extraction for bright sources

2023-06-15T15:36:59Z

Note on extraction for bright sources

Zalot at 11:04, 24 April 2023

2023-04-24T11:04:50Z

Thalhammer at 15:11, 24 January 2023

2023-01-24T15:11:57Z

Zalot: /* NuSTAR data extraction */

2022-06-23T13:26:27Z

NuSTAR data extraction

Ballhausen: Created page with "====== NuSTAR data extraction ====== '''Preparation:''' This step unpacks the data of both FPM to the specified 'prepdir'. The example observation is of Mrk 335.

 #!/bi..."

2018-04-11T12:01:47Z

Created page with "====== NuSTAR data extraction ====== '''Preparation:''' This step unpacks the data of both FPM to the specified 'prepdir'. The example observation is of Mrk 335. <pre> #!/bi..."

New page

====== NuSTAR data extraction ======

'''Preparation:''' This step unpacks the data of both FPM to the specified 'prepdir'. The example observation is of Mrk 335.

<pre>
#!/bin/csh

set revolution = '6'
set obsid = '60001041005'
set datadir = /eu/X-ray/NuSTAR/data/$revolution/$obsid
set prepdir = /userdata/data/$user/whereever/you/want

nuprepare --datadir=$datadir --prepdir=$prepdir --all
</pre>

'''Spectrum and Lightcurve Extraction:'''
Now you can take a look at the raw images in prepdir/reprocessed/nu-obsid-A-or-B-01_cl.evt using ''ds9''. Create a region by clicking at the source and choose a circular region between 50 and 120<nowiki>''</nowiki> radius centered on the source. You can save the coordinates under Region->Save Regions... as .reg-file use the default coordinate system.<br />
Choose and save another region for the background spectrum that does not contain any sources and make it as large as possible. Be careful that it is still within NuSTAR's FOV.<br />
Now we can extract the spectrum using nuextract:

<pre>

#!/bin/csh

set revolution = '6'
set obsid = '60001041005'
set prepdir = /userdata/data/$user/whereever/you/want

set name = extraction_a
set bkg = $prepdir/reprocessed/fpma_bkg.reg
set src = $prepdir/reprocessed/fpma_src.reg

nuextract --prepdir=$prepdir --name=$name --srcreg=$src --bkgreg=$bkg --fpm='A'

set name = extraction_b
set bkg = $prepdir/reprocessed/fpmb_bkg.reg
set src = $prepdir/reprocessed/fpmb_src.reg

nuextract --prepdir=$prepdir --name=$name --srcreg=$src --bkgreg=$bkg --fpm='B'

</pre>

For time- or energy-limited extractions take a look at:
nuextract --help

===== Version information =====

In order to find out the version of the NuSTARDAS and CALDB your data were extracted with, you can use the following commands:

fdump <fits_file_of_interest> page=no | grep -i nustardas
fdump <fits_file_of_interest> page=no | grep -i caldb

[[Category:Data Extraction]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:48, 14 January 2026
Line 55:		Line 55:

	* Very long file and directory names can cause crashes in nuextract. The path $name has to be a relative path, otherwise nuextract crashes.		* Very long file and directory names can cause crashes in nuextract. The path $name has to be a relative path, otherwise nuextract crashes.
		+	* When using a GTI file during extractions, be careful if a keyword not found error occurs. fkeypar adds a keyword to the first extension per default. If you need the keyword in the primary header, this has to be explicitly set when calling fkeypar.

	===== Bright sources =====		===== Bright sources =====

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 * For sources with count-rates exceeding ~100 counts per second it is advised to use the the additional nuprepare flag --statusexpr="(STATUS==b0000xxx00xxxx000)&&(SHIELD==0)".
 * For timing analysis of the power spectrum the SHIELD==0 term should be removed as this does introduce energy dependent timing features.
 * Check the NuSTAR FAQ on bright sources for more information: https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nustar/nustar_faq.html#bright.

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 * Very long file and directory names can cause crashes in nuextract. The path $name has to be a relative path, otherwise nuextract crashes.
-===== Bright sources ======
+===== Bright sources =====
-* For sources with count-rates exceeding ~100 counts per second it is advised to user the the additional nuprepare flag statusexpr="(STATUS==b0000xxx00xxxx000)&&(SHIELD==0)".
+* For sources with count-rates exceeding ~100 counts per second it is advised to use the the additional nuprepare flag --statusexpr="(STATUS==b0000xxx00xxxx000)&&(SHIELD==0)".
-* For some timing analysis the SHIELD==0 term should be removed as this does introduce energy dependent timing features.
+* For timing analysis of the power spectrum the SHIELD==0 term should be removed as this does introduce energy dependent timing features.
 * Check the NuSTAR FAQ on bright sources for more information: https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nustar/nustar_faq.html#bright.

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ===== Known Issues =====
-Very long file and directory names can cause crashes in nuextract. The path $name has to be a relative path, otherwise nuextract crashes.
+* Very long file and directory names can cause crashes in nuextract. The path $name has to be a relative path, otherwise nuextract crashes.
 [[Category:Data Extraction]]

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ===== Known Issues =====
-Very long file and directory names can cause crashes in nuextract.
+Very long file and directory names can cause crashes in nuextract. The path $name has to be a relative path, otherwise nuextract crashes.
 [[Category:Data Extraction]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:11, 24 January 2023
Line 51:		Line 51:
	fdump <fits_file_of_interest> page=no \| grep -i caldb		fdump <fits_file_of_interest> page=no \| grep -i caldb

		+
		+	===== Known Issues =====
		+
		+	Very long file and directory names can cause crashes in nuextract.

	[[Category:Data Extraction]]		[[Category:Data Extraction]]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 set revolution = '6'
 set obsid = '60001041005'
-set datadir = /eu/X-ray/NuSTAR/data/$revolution/$obsid
+set datadir = /data/X-ray/NuSTAR/data/$revolution/$obsid
 set prepdir = /userdata/data/$user/whereever/you/want
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 For time- or energy-limited extractions take a look at:
   nuextract --help
 ===== Version information =====