We have identified three stages of data analysis: analysis of calibration data, quicklook analysis of flight data, and detailed analysis of flight data.
Calibration data will be processed and reduced using the software we have developed over the past five years for processing and analysis of CCD images and spectra ( PRAXIS). The primary result of our instrument calibration will be a detailed response matrix describing the quantum efficiency and Green's function of the detectors as a function of energy. This response matrix will be convolved with incident spectra to fit the flight data.
Quicklook and normal data processing are performed by the PASS1 program. The processed data will be subjected to further analysis by the CUBIC science team. Quicklook analysis will monitor housekeeping values, tracking changes and flagging anomalies. We will also monitor science performance, including CCD resolution and CTI as a function of time, and will make necessary changes to the response matrix required to fit the data throughout the mission.
Detailed data analysis software for CUBIC will be based on the software packages developed at MIT, PSU and GSFC for the CCD cameras on the Asuka satellite. The PASS1 program converts CUBIC telemetry files into FITS files readable by the Asuka data analysis routines. This will make available all of our existing X-ray analysis tools, including software originally written for ROSAT and Asuka to perform image processing and spectral analysis. Spectral analysis will be performed using the XSPEC program.