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3.3.3 Raymond-thermal spectrum example
 
What is the conversion factor from counts per second to energy flux
for a particular spectrum? For example, consider a Raymond-Smith
Plasma with a temperature corresponding to 1 keV and a column of 5 x 1021 cm-2 (log(N
H) = 21.7). The ECF for this
spectral model is taken from Table 10 or Figure 32, it is 
8.84 x 109.  That is, a flux of 1 x 10-11 ergs cm-2 s-1 
in the ROSAT energy band (0.1 to 2.4
keV) will give a count rate of 0.0884 ct s-1 in the HRI. Inverting
this relationship gives the result that 1 ct s-1 = 1.13 
x 10-10 ergs cm-2 s-1.
  
Figure 30:
The ECF (energy-to-counts 
           conversion factor) is plotted as a function of the energy index for 
           the powerlaw spectral model. The values are shown for a range of 
           absorbing column densities (log(NH)).
| ![\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{power.ps}](power.gif) | 
 
LINK TO POSTSCRIPT FILE
for 
  Figure 30
  
Figure 31:
The ECF 
           (energy-to-counts conversion factor) is plotted as a function of the 
           temperature (Log(kT)) for a Thermal Bremsstrahlung spectral model. 
           The values are shown for a range of absorbing column densities 
           (log(NH)).
| ![\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{thermal.ps}](thermal.gif) | 
 
LINK TO POSTSCRIPT FILE
for 
  Figure 31
  
Figure 32:
The ECF 
           (energy-to-counts conversion factor) is plotted as a function of the 
           temperature (Log(kT)) for a Raymond-Smith spectral model. The values 
           are shown for a range of absorbing column densities (log(NH)).
| ![\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{raymond.ps}](raymond.gif) | 
 
LINK TO POSTSCRIPT FILE
for 
  Figure 32
  
Figure 33:
The ECF 
           (energy-to-counts conversion factor) is plotted as a function of 
           the temperature (Log(kT)) for a blackbody spectral model. The values 
           are shown for a range of absorbing column densities (log(NH)).
| ![\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{black.ps}](black.gif) | 
 
LINK TO POSTSCRIPT FILE
for 
  Figure 33
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 Next: 3.4 Time Variability Studies
Up: 3.3 Expected Count Rates
 Previous: 3.3.2 Power-law spectrum example
rsdc@cfa.harvard.edu 
1999-05-25