CorrSim: A Multiwavelength Timing Observation Simulator

TL;DR

CorrSim is a simulation tool designed to assist astronomers in planning and analyzing multiwavelength timing observations by modeling variability, noise, and observational constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive simulation program that models multiwavelength variability and observational effects, aiding in planning and data interpretation.

Findings

CorrSim effectively simulates observational data with realistic noise and sampling.

The tool helps evaluate the feasibility of planned observations.

It demonstrates how Fourier model parameters influence variability analysis.

Abstract

Studying the rapid variability of many astronomical objects is key to understanding the underlying processes at play. However, a combination of limited telescope availability, viewing constraints, and the unpredictable nature of many sources mean that obtaining data well-suited to this task can be tricky, especially when it comes to simultaneous multiwavelength observations. Researchers can often find themselves tuning observational parameters in real-time, or may realise later that their observation did not achieve their goals. Here, we present CorrSim, a program to aid planning of multiwavelength coordinated observations. CorrSim takes a model of a system (i.e. Power Spectra, Coherence, and Lags), and returns a simulated multiwavelength observation, including effects of noise, telescope parameters, and finite sampling. The goals of this are: (i) To simulate a potential observation (to inform decisions about its feasibility); (ii) To investigate how different Fourier models affect a system's variability (e.g. how altering the frequency-dependent lags between bands can affect data products like cross-correlation functions); and (iii) To simulate existing data and investigate its trustworthiness. We outline the methodology behind CorrSim, show how a variety of parameters (e.g. noise sources, observation length, and telescope choice) can affect data, and present examples of the software in action.