CIAO: Chandra's Data Analysis System for X-Ray Astronomy and Beyond

TL;DR

CIAO is a comprehensive, modular software system developed over 25 years for X-ray data analysis in astronomy, supporting calibration, modeling, visualization, and simulation for Chandra and beyond.

Contribution

This paper details CIAO's design, evolution, and capabilities, highlighting its architecture, tools, and support system that have sustained its widespread use in X-ray astronomy.

Findings

CIAO has become a widely used system for X-ray data analysis over 25 years.

It integrates calibration, modeling, visualization, and simulation tools.

CIAO's modular design enables flexible and consistent analysis workflows.

Abstract

The Chandra Interactive Analysis of Observations (CIAO) software, developed by the Chandra X-ray Center, has been the data analysis package for the Chandra X-ray Observatory since its launch in 1999. Over nearly three decades, CIAO has grown from a small software suite into a widely used system for X-ray data analysis and beyond. CIAO provides tools for calibration, spectral, imaging, and timing analysis, together with high-level scripts and the \sherpa\ modeling and fitting application. Its modular design and unified data model allow users to build flexible analysis workflows while maintaining consistency with the Chandra data processing pipeline. Visualization capabilities are provided through integration with SAOImageDS9 and Python-based tools, and simulation components such as ChaRT and MARX extend the analysis environment to include detailed modeling of instrumental effects. In this paper we describe CIAO's design, evolution, and capabilities after 25 years of Chandra operations. We also describe its core architecture, scripting environment, modeling, visualization tools, simulation components, and testing infrastructure, as well as the documentation and user support system that have contributed to its widespread use. CIAO's continued development and broad adoption highlight its important role in X-ray astronomy and its usefulness in multiwavelength astrophysical research.