On Calibrations Using the Crab Nebula and Models of the Nebular X-Ray Emission
Guainazzi, M.; O'Dell, S. L.; Weisskopf, M. C.; Elsner, R. F.; Zavlin, V. E.; Wilson-Hodge, C.; Shaposhnikov, N.; Jahoda, K.
United States, Spain
Abstract
Motivated by a paper of Kirsch et al. on possible use of the Crab Nebula as a standard candle for calibrating X-ray response functions, we examine consequences of intrinsic departures from a single (absorbed) power law upon such calibrations. We limit our analyses to three more modern X-ray instruments—the ROSAT/PSPC, the RXTE/Proportional Counter Array, and the XMM-Newton/EPIC-pn (burst mode). The results indicate a need to refine two of the three response functions studied. We are also able to distinguish between two current theoretical models for the system spectrum.