The data analysis pipeline for the Microchannel X-ray Telescope on board the SVOM mission

TL;DR

This paper details the design and implementation of a data analysis pipeline for the MXT instrument on the SVOM mission, enabling efficient processing of X-ray data for transient astrophysical phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a modular, automated pipeline architecture tailored for the MXT instrument, ensuring timely data calibration and analysis for the SVOM mission.

Findings

Pipeline successfully processes real datasets within performance requirements.

Automated steps include calibration, background filtering, and correction of instrumental effects.

Produces science-ready data products like images, light curves, and spectra.

Abstract

The Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) mission was launched in June 2024. It is a joint Sino-French collaboration designed to detect, localize, and study gammaray bursts (GRBs) and other high-energy transients. Among its onboard instruments, the Microchannel Xray Telescope (MXT) plays a central role by providing follow-up X-ray observations of GRB afterglows and other transient phenomena. To ensure timely and accurate scientific exploitation of MXT observations, a dedicated ground processing pipeline has been developed. This pipeline automatically ingests raw event lists, performs calibration, background and time filtering, corrects instrumental effects, and produces science-ready data products such as images and light curves and spectra of detected sources. In this paper, we describe the architecture and key components of the MXT data analysis pipeline, highlighting its modular design and integration within the broader SVOM ground segment. We also show results from real datasets, demonstrating the pipeline's ability to meet the performance requirements of the mission.