Creating a Spectrum File Using the HESSI GUI

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We can set the start and end times we would like to use by simply entering times in this widget or selecting 'Start' and entering times in the popup menu, then doing this again for the end time. Once we have selected our times we can plot the observing summary for the flare. In this example we have selected the flare on 21Apr2002 starting at 00:20:00 and continuing until 01:40:00. We can plot the observing summary in the main window by selecting the 'Plot Observing Summary Data' button. The observing summary should appear as below:  
We can set the start and end times we would like to use by simply entering times in this widget or selecting 'Start' and entering times in the popup menu, then doing this again for the end time. Once we have selected our times we can plot the observing summary for the flare. In this example we have selected the flare on 21Apr2002 starting at 00:20:00 and continuing until 01:40:00. We can plot the observing summary in the main window by selecting the 'Plot Observing Summary Data' button. The observing summary should appear as below:  
[[Image:obs_summary.jpg|center|thumb|200px|The observing Summary for the 21Apr2002 flare]]
[[Image:obs_summary.jpg|center|thumb|200px|The observing Summary for the 21Apr2002 flare]]
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This is the standard time history for the flare of interest on 21 April 2002. Note that it is the summed counting rate of all the front and rear detector segments in counts s-1 detector-1.  The detailed markings in this plot are described in detail in Kim Tolbert's write up on [http://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssw/hessi/doc/guides/obs_summ_plots.htm RHESSI Quicklook Light Curves]. The various changes in count rate with time in the different energy ranges are described in Brian Dennis' write up on [http://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssw/hessi/doc/guides/lightcurve_artifacts.htm Artifacts in RHESSI Light Curves].
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This count rate plot gives us very important information on the impulsive phase of the flare of interest. We see, for example, that RHESSI came out of nighttime at about 00:33 UT as indicated by the vertical blue dashed line but more accurately, by the rapid increase in the 3 - 6 and 6 - 12 keV count rates. This indicates that a flare was already going on at this time. Images show that it was at a different location than the flare of interest that began at about 00:39 UT. (Note that right clicking on the plot gives you the time at the cursor.) The horizontal purple line at the top of the plot labeled A0 indicates that all attenuators were out of the detector fields of view at this time. The counting rate at all energies up to 25 keV rose very rapidly until at about 00:48 UT the thin attenuators moved into the detector fields of view (as indicated by the purple line dropping to the A1 level); the rates below 25 keV dropped precipitously at this time. Thereafter, every 4 minutes, the thin attenuators were removed for 1-minute intervals to test the low energy rate from the flare. At about 01:30 UT, the thick attenuators were added to the thin attenuators in the detector fields of view (the A3 state as indicated on the purple line) and the rates up to 50 keV dropped precipitously.  Finally, at abut 01:33 UT, RHESSI went into night and the rates again fell to their non-solar background levels. Note that the rates up to 300 keV continued to climb as RHESSI entered the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) as indicated by the orange line marked with an "S" at the top of the plot. No data is recorded during passages through the most intense parts of the SAA to preserve space in the on-board memory.
[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:Software]]

Revision as of 19:32, 19 June 2009

Creating A Spectrum File with the HESSI GUI

Introduction

Under Construction. See Ospex - The Basics for an older version of the HESSI GUI Documentation. If you have already created a spectrum file go to OSPEX Documentation for a simple tutorial on fitting an interval.

Creating a Count Rate Spectrum File

Start the HESSI GUI at the sswidl command line by typing:

hessi

The HESSI GUI start screen will appear. Select the 'File' drop down menu. The GUI should now appear as below.

The Hessi GUI start screen with File drop down menu

From the file drop down menu choose the 'Select Observation Time Interval...' option. The 'Observation Time Interval Selection' GUI will pop up.

Pop up GUI to set time over which to create the spectrum file

We can set the start and end times we would like to use by simply entering times in this widget or selecting 'Start' and entering times in the popup menu, then doing this again for the end time. Once we have selected our times we can plot the observing summary for the flare. In this example we have selected the flare on 21Apr2002 starting at 00:20:00 and continuing until 01:40:00. We can plot the observing summary in the main window by selecting the 'Plot Observing Summary Data' button. The observing summary should appear as below:

The observing Summary for the 21Apr2002 flare

This is the standard time history for the flare of interest on 21 April 2002. Note that it is the summed counting rate of all the front and rear detector segments in counts s-1 detector-1. The detailed markings in this plot are described in detail in Kim Tolbert's write up on RHESSI Quicklook Light Curves. The various changes in count rate with time in the different energy ranges are described in Brian Dennis' write up on Artifacts in RHESSI Light Curves. This count rate plot gives us very important information on the impulsive phase of the flare of interest. We see, for example, that RHESSI came out of nighttime at about 00:33 UT as indicated by the vertical blue dashed line but more accurately, by the rapid increase in the 3 - 6 and 6 - 12 keV count rates. This indicates that a flare was already going on at this time. Images show that it was at a different location than the flare of interest that began at about 00:39 UT. (Note that right clicking on the plot gives you the time at the cursor.) The horizontal purple line at the top of the plot labeled A0 indicates that all attenuators were out of the detector fields of view at this time. The counting rate at all energies up to 25 keV rose very rapidly until at about 00:48 UT the thin attenuators moved into the detector fields of view (as indicated by the purple line dropping to the A1 level); the rates below 25 keV dropped precipitously at this time. Thereafter, every 4 minutes, the thin attenuators were removed for 1-minute intervals to test the low energy rate from the flare. At about 01:30 UT, the thick attenuators were added to the thin attenuators in the detector fields of view (the A3 state as indicated on the purple line) and the rates up to 50 keV dropped precipitously. Finally, at abut 01:33 UT, RHESSI went into night and the rates again fell to their non-solar background levels. Note that the rates up to 300 keV continued to climb as RHESSI entered the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) as indicated by the orange line marked with an "S" at the top of the plot. No data is recorded during passages through the most intense parts of the SAA to preserve space in the on-board memory.

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