EroSnr EC Proposal nn

Proposal Date : 26-02-2016

Scientific Proposal

During the eROSITA All-Sky Survey (eRASS), extended objects of large angular size (> 1 degree) such as supernova remnants, superbubbles, and large scale hot interstellar medium features will be observed. The proper extraction and analysis of science products from the survey data is crucial to realising the potential eROSITA offers in the study of such objects, only previously afforded by the ROSAT All-Sky Survey.

This a complex process for large objects which must deal with issues such as varying instrumental properties and background components (both in single scan and scan-to-scan time frames), very large data sets, and data access. To extract the best possible scientific output from the data, such issues must be dealt with rigorously. Therefore, it is crucial that prior to the beginning of the eRASS, a clearly defined system and pipeline is in place to efficiently and effectively yield quality scientific output from the data.

We propose to develop and test the system and pipeline for the analysis of large extended objects. This can be structured into three steps:

1. Simulation of large objects using the SIXTE simulations software, incorporating: - extended source, contaminating point source, and astrophysical background components - time variable effects such as soft-proton contamination

2. Data reduction and analysis using the eSASS software and pipeline definition, including, e.g.: - point source detection and exclusion - imaging/spectral science product extraction - analysis (using external software if necessary, e.g., XSPEC) - retrospective reduction/analysis steps

3. Addressing additional issues, e.g.: - data access - additional analysis steps required to maximise science output (e.g., particle background subtraction, binning/smoothing algorithms, etc.) - extended object assessment between eRASS scans (e.g., identifying suitable targets for early science) - documentation

List of Potential Collaborators within eROSITA_DE

Michael Freyberg

Expected Outcome

Make available pipeline and documentation for the extraction and analysis of science products from large extended objects.

Expected duration of the project

About 12 months