DISENTANGLING OVERLAPPING ASTRONOMICAL SOURCES USING SPATIAL AND SPECTRAL INFORMATION
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Published version
Accepted version
OA Location
Author(s)
Jones, DE
Kashyap, VL
van Dyk, DA
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We present a powerful new algorithm that combines both spatial information (event locations and the point-spread function) and spectral information (photon energies) to separate photons from overlapping sources. We use Bayesian statistical methods to simultaneously infer the number of overlapping sources, to probabilistically separate the photons among the sources, and to fit the parameters describing the individual sources. Using the Bayesian joint posterior distribution, we are able to coherently quantify the uncertainties associated with all these parameters. The advantages of combining spatial and spectral information are demonstrated through a simulation study. The utility of the approach is then illustrated by analysis of observations of FK Aqr and FL Aqr with the XMM-Newton Observatory and the central region of the Orion Nebula Cluster with the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Date Issued
2015-08-01
Date Acceptance
2015-06-02
Citation
Astrophysical Journal, 2015, 808 (2)
ISSN
1538-4357
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Journal / Book Title
Astrophysical Journal
Volume
808
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2015. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Sponsor
The Royal Society
Commission of the European Communities
National Science Foundation (US)
Grant Number
WM110023
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG-321865
DMS-12-08791
Subjects
Astronomy & Astrophysics
0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
0305 Organic Chemistry
0306 Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
137