IDL EXTRACTOR
C. B. Markwardt
Version 1.2
09 Feb 2009

This directory contains the "IDL Extractor", a set of programs written
in the IDL language, that can extract light curves, spectra and power
spectra from RXTE data (and also Swift and Chandra data).  The
programs allow particularly easy ways to filter and bin data in time,
energy and frequency, with special attention to consistency across all
programs.  The output files are written in standard FITS formats where
appropriate, which are compatible with standard downstream software.

The main programs are:

  * BINLC - make one or more light curves
  * BINPHA - make one or more spectrum
  * RADES - make time resolved spectra
  * RADPS - make one or more Fourier power spectrum
  * RACRS - compute Fourier "cross spectrum" (including energy
    dependent lags)

Each file contains detailed documentation on how to invoke, and the
meanings of the various parameters.

More detailed tutorial information is available in the accompanying
PDF documentation file.

Revisions
09 Feb 2009 - Version 1.2
   Added some more missing functions, which allows reader to work
   with gzipped files.
   BINLC - handle interpolation a little better
   RACRS - documentation improvements
17 Jul 2008 - Version 1.1
   Add some missing functions to package.  Other changes:
   RADPS: handle spectra of non-integer seconds;
   EVSEL,PUTDPS: more conforming output files;
   BINLC: allow fractional exposure per light curve bin;
   fix some obscure bugs in event handling
15 Jan 2008 - Initial revision