XMM-Newton (cross)-calibration

Abstract

ESA's large X-ray space observatory XMM-Newton is in its fifth year of operations. We give a general overview of the status of calibration of the five X-ray instruments and the Optical Monitor. A main point of interest in the last year became the cross-calibration between the instruments. A cross-calibration campaign started at the XMM-Newton Science Operation Centre at the European Space Astronomy Centre in collaboration with the Instrument Principle Investigators provides a first systematic comparison of the X-ray instruments EPIC and RGS for various kind of sources making also an initial assessment in cross calibration with other X-ray observatories.

High resolution version available at page: http://xmm.vilspa.esa.es/external/xmm_sw_cal/calib/documentation.shtml#EPIC direct link: http://xmm.vilspa.esa.es/docs/documents/CAL-TN-0055-1-0.ps.gz