Towards open and reproducible multi-instrument analysis in gamma-ray astronomy

The analysis and combination of data from different gamma-ray instruments involves the use of collaboration proprietary software and case-by-case methods. The effort of defining a common data format for high-level data, namely event lists and instrument response functions (IRFs), has recently starte...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nigro, Cosimo (Author) , King, Johannes (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 30 April 2019
In: Astronomy and astrophysics
Year: 2019, Volume: 625, Pages: 1-8
ISSN:1432-0746
DOI:10.1051/0004-6361/201834938
Online Access:Verlag, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201834938
Verlag, Volltext: https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2019/05/aa34938-18/aa34938-18.html
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Author Notes:C. Nigro, C. Deil, R. Zanin, T. Hassan, J. King, J.E. Ruiz, L. Saha, R. Terrier, K. Brügge, M. Nöthe, R. Bird, T.T.Y. Lin, J. Aleksić, C. Boisson, J.L. Contreras, A. Donath, L. Jouvin, N. Kelley-Hoskins, B. Khelifi, K. Kosack, J. Rico, and A. Sinha
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Summary:The analysis and combination of data from different gamma-ray instruments involves the use of collaboration proprietary software and case-by-case methods. The effort of defining a common data format for high-level data, namely event lists and instrument response functions (IRFs), has recently started for very-high-energy gamma-ray instruments, driven by the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). In this work we implemented this prototypical data format for a small set of MAGIC, VERITAS, FACT, and H.E.S.S. Crab nebula observations, and we analyzed them with the open-source gammapy software package. By combining data from <i>Fermi<i/>-LAT, and from four of the currently operating imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, we produced a joint maximum likelihood fit of the Crab nebula spectrum. Aspects of the statistical errors and the evaluation of systematic uncertainty are also commented upon, along with the release format of spectral measurements. The results presented in this work are obtained using open-access on-line assets that allow for a long-term reproducibility of the results.
Item Description:Gesehen am 15.07.2019
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1432-0746
DOI:10.1051/0004-6361/201834938