The INTEGRAL IBIS/ISGRI System Point Spread Function and Source Location Accuracy

Gros, A.; Goldwurm, A.; Cadolle-Bel, M.; Goldoni, P.; Rodriguez, J.; Foschini, L.; Del Santo, M.; Blay, P.
Bibliographical reference

Astronomy and Astrophysics, v.411, p.L179-L183 (2003)

Advertised on:
11
2003
Number of authors
8
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
105
Refereed citations
90
Description
The imager on board INTEGRAL (IBIS) presently provides the most detailed sky images ever obtained at energies above 30 keV. The telescope is based on a coded aperture imaging system which allows to obtain sky images in a large field of view (29deg x 29deg) with an angular resolution of 12'. The System Point Spread Function of the telescope and its detailed characteristics are here described along with the specific analysis algorithms used to derive the accurate point-like source locations. The derived location accuracy is studied using the first in-flight calibration data on strong sources for the IBIS/ISGRI system. The dependence of the calibrated location accuracy with the signal to noise ratio of the sources is presented. These preliminary studies demonstrate that the IBIS/ISGRI telescope and the standard scientific analysis software allow source localizations with accuracy at 90% confidence level better than 1' for sources with signal to noise ratios >30 over the whole field of view, in agreement with the expected performances of the instrument. Based on observations with INTEGRAL, an ESA project with instruments and science data centre funded by ESA member states (especially the PI countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain), Czech Republic and Poland, and with the participation of Russia and the USA.