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Contents
Contents
XSTAR
A Spectral Analysis Tool
Version 2.1ln7
T.R. Kallman
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
February 28, 2008
Contents
Introduction
What is XSTAR?
Scope of This Document
Acknowledgments
Useful addresses
A Walkthrough of XSTAR
XSTAR Model: Spherical cloud
xstar Model: H II region
xstar Model: Quasar Broad Line Cloud
An Overview of XSTAR
Basic Operation
Important note
Command syntax
Defining input spectra
Significant Changes Since Version 1
FITS Files & Graphical Output
The Atomic Database
Supported Platforms
Installation
Subroutine XSTAR
Limitations
Temperature
Density
Column Density
Getting help
User Input to XSTAR
Input Parameter Summary
Description of XSTAR Parameters
Covering Fraction (cfrac)
Temperature (temperature)
Constant Pressure Switch (lcpres)
Pressure (pressure)
Density (density)
Spectrum (spectrum)
Spectrum File (spectrum_file)
Spectrum Units (spectun)
Radiation Temperature or Alpha (trad)
Luminosity (luminosity)
column_density
log of the ionization_parameter= log(
) or log(
) (rlogxi)
Abundances
Model Name (modelname)
The XSTAR Input Spectral Models
Summary
bbody
bremss
powerlaw
File
Direct Editing of the Parameter File
Hidden Parameters
Number of Steps (nsteps)
write_switch (lwrite)
print_switch (lprint)
Courant Multiplier (emult)
Max Tau for Courant Step (taumax)
Min Electron Abundance (xeemin)
Ion Abundance Criterion for Multilevel Calculation (critf)
Turbulent Velocity (vturbi)
Number of Passes (npass)
Number of Iterations (niter)
Loop Control (loopcontrol)
mode
XSTAR output
The Spectral Data File: xout_spect1.fits
The Continuum File: xout_cont1.fits
The Line Lumnosity File: xout_lines1.fits
The Abundances Data File: xout_abund1.fits
Detailed Ionic Information: xout_detail.fits
Detailed Line Information: xout_detal2.fits
XSTAR Run Log: xout_step.log
Problems and Pitfalls
Nickel
Mtables
Execution Time
Low Density
High Density
The Energy Grid
The Ionizing Spectrum
The use of critf
Energy Budget
Column Density
Notes regarding equivalent widths of unresolved absorption lines in mtables
Bug in version 2.1k
XSTAR2XSPEC
Parameters
Physical Parameters
XSTAR Fixed Parameters
XSTAR2XSPEC Control parameters
Running XSTAR2XSPEC
Output
Important Notes on Mtables
Notes on Normalization
Speeding Things Up
Examples
Example 1: A grid of coronal models
Example 2: Photoionized Grid
The Physics Behind XSTAR
Assumptions
Input
Elementary Considerations
Algorithm
Atomic Level Populations
Atomic Levels
Thermal Equilibrium
Recombination Continuum Emission and Escape
Line Emission and Escape
Continuum Emission
Continuum Transfer
Radiation Field Quantities and Transfer Details
Energy Conservation
Algorithm
Atomic Processes
Photoionization
Collisional Ionization
Recombination
Collisional Excitation and Radiative Transition Probabilities
Charge Transfer
Theory of Operation
XSTAR
Introduction
Programming Philosophy
List of Subroutines
Primary Computational Subroutines
Rate Calculation Subroutines
Input Subroutines
Output Subroutines
Atomic Database Subroutines
Miscellaneous Subroutines
Units
List of Variable Names
Flow Chart
XSTAR2XSPEC
xstar2xspec (script)
xstinitable
xstar2table
The Lexington Benchmarks
Introduction
Cool H II Region (benchmark 1)
Input:
Meudon H II Region (benchmark 2)
Input:
Output:
Blister H II Region (benchmark 3)
Input:
Output:
Troubleshooting
XSTAR
XSTAR2XSPEC
When The Above Doesn't Work
The Atomic Database
General Description
Utility Programs
Obtaining and Running XSTAR
XSTAR as Part of the FTOOLS Package
XSTAR as a Standalone Package
Subroutine XSTAR
The XSTAR Web Site
Sample Results
From ``Photoionization and High Density Plasmas'', T. Kallman and M. Bautista, June 2000, submitted to Ap. J.
Sample Results: Low Density
Atomic Rates and Cross Sections
Ionization Balance
Heating and cooling rates
Thermal Balance Calculation
Sample Results: High Density
Density dependent recombination rates
Level populations vs. density
Heating-cooling vs. density
Thermal Equilibrium
Ionization distribution, high n
Warm absorber, high density
Recombination emission, high density
The effects of stimulated recombination
Sample Results, Continued
Revision History
Version 2.0
Version 2.1 (June 2000)
Version 2.1a (December 2000)
Version 2.1b (January 2001)
Version 2.1c (May 2001)
Version 2.1d (May 2001)
Version 2.1e (June 2001)
Version 2.1h (June 2002)
Version 2.1j (September 2003)
Version 2.1k (May 2004)
Version 2.1kn3 (April 2005)
Version 2.1kn4 (April 2005)
Version 2.1kn5 (March (?) 2006)
Version 2.1kn6 (June 2006)
Version 2.1kn7 (March 2007)
Version 2.1kn7 (December 2007)
Version 2.1l
Version 2.1ln3
Version 2.1ln4
Version 2.1ln5
Version 2.1ln6
Version 2.1ln7
Bibliography
About this document ...
Tim Kallman 2008-02-28
) or log(
) (rlogxi)