Obtaining a Light Curve

We will now look at a light curve to decide when we want to make images. Back on the GUI main window click the "File" pull down button and choose, "Retrieve/Data Process", and "Light Curve".

           
 

1)  (This step is not always necessary) The spin period for this flare was 4.3329 seconds  so enter this number into the "Time Resolution" box. You may want to make the plot with time bins one rotation period long as to a avoid any problems with the modulation of the flux affecting the light curve.   For specific steps on how to find the spin period click Separate Instructions.

2)  Next to the “Energy Bands” box click “Change”. This will bring up the "Select Energy Intervals" window. There are a few different ways to enter energy intervals here. The way we will do it is to click "All Standard" at the bottom right corner of this window. Next to the 9 highlighted energy intervals click "Replace List". Click “Accept” at the bottom of this window.

3)  Notice that in the “Collimators and Detector Front/Rear Segments Selected" all detector front segments are already selected and summed together. We will accept this and all other default settings for this light curve. In most cases you will click “Change” to choose the collimators you want. Since we are accepting these settings you can now click “Plot Lightcurve”. This may take a few minutes, depending on your computer.

4)   Click "Close” on the “Light Curve” window.

5)   Plot your light curve on a log scale by pulling down “Plot Control” and selecting “XY-Plot display Options”.

6)   Check X axis “Exact” and Y axis “Log”.  This will change  the plot.
 

7)   You can choose where the legend appears by using the pull down arrow next to “Legend Location”. Select “Upper Right” so that the peak of the flare is not covered

8)    Click “Accept and Close” and choose “Apply to this plot only”.