group_counts

sherpa.astro.ui.group_counts(id, num=None, bkg_id=None, maxLength=None, tabStops=None)

Group into a minimum number of counts per bin.

Combine the data so that each bin contains num or more counts. The binning scheme is applied to all the channels, but any existing filter - created by the ignore or notice set of functions - is re-applied after the data has been grouped. The background is not included in this calculation; the calculation is done on the raw data even if subtract has been called on this data set.

Parameters:
  • id (int or str, optional) – The identifier for the data set to use. If not given then the default identifier is used, as returned by get_default_id.
  • num (int) – The number of channels to combine into a group.
  • bkg_id (int or str, optional) – Set to group the background associated with the data set. When bkg_id is None (which is the default), the grouping is applied to all the associated background data sets as well as the source data set.
  • maxLength (int, optional) – The maximum number of channels that can be combined into a single group.
  • tabStops (array of int or bool, optional) – If set, indicate one or more ranges of channels that should not be included in the grouped output. The array should match the number of channels in the data set and non-zero or True means that the channel should be ignored from the grouping (use 0 or False otherwise).
Raises:

sherpa.utils.err.ArgumentErr – If the data set does not contain a PHA data set.

See also

group_adapt()
Adaptively group to a minimum number of counts.
group_adapt_snr()
Adaptively group to a minimum signal-to-noise ratio.
group_bins()
Group into a fixed number of bins.
group_snr()
Group into a minimum signal-to-noise ratio.
group_width()
Group into a fixed bin width.
set_grouping()
Apply a set of grouping flags to a PHA data set.
set_quality()
Apply a set of quality flags to a PHA data set.

Notes

The function does not follow the normal Python standards for parameter use, since it is designed for easy interactive use. When called with a single un-named argument, it is taken to be the num parameter. If given two un-named arguments, then they are interpreted as the id and num parameters, respectively. The remaining parameters are expected to be given as named arguments.

Unlike group, it is possible to call group_counts multiple times on the same data set without needing to call ungroup.

If channels can not be placed into a “valid” group, then a warning message will be displayed to the screen and the quality value for these channels will be set to 2. This information can be found with the get_quality command.

Examples

Group the default data set so that each bin contains at least 20 counts:

>>> group_counts(20)

Plot two versions of the ‘jet’ data set: the first uses 20 counts per group and the second is 50:

>>> group_counts('jet', 20)
>>> plot_data('jet')
>>> group_counts('jet', 50)
>>> plot_data('jet', overplot=True)

The grouping is applied to the full data set, and then the filter - in this case defined over the range 0.5 to 8 keV - will be applied.

>>> set_analysis('energy')
>>> notice(0.5, 8)
>>> group_counts(30)
>>> plot_data()

If a channel has more than 30 counts then do not group, otherwise group channels so that they contain at least 40 counts. The group_adapt and group_adapt_snr functions provide similar functionality to this example. A maximum length of 10 channels is enforced, to avoid bins getting too large when the signal is low.

>>> notice()
>>> counts = get_data().counts
>>> ign = counts > 30
>>> group_counts(40, tabStops=ign, maxLength=10)