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Title:
Parameter estimation in X-ray astronomy using maximum likelihood
Authors:
Wachter, K.; Leach, R.; Kellogg, E.
Affiliation:
AA(Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.), AB(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Mass.), AC(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Mass.)
Publication:
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 230, May 15, 1979, p. 274-287. (ApJ Homepage)
Publication Date:
05/1979
Category:
Astrophysics
Origin:
STI
NASA/STI Keywords:
CONFIDENCE LIMITS, MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD ESTIMATES, POISSON DENSITY FUNCTIONS, SPECTRUM ANALYSIS, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, X RAY ASTRONOMY, COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION, INDEPENDENT VARIABLES, X RAY SPECTRA
Comment:
A&AA ID. AAA025.031.589
DOI:
10.1086/157084
Bibliographic Code:
1979ApJ...230..274W

Abstract

Methods of estimation of parameter values and confidence regions by maximum likelihood and Fisher efficient scores starting from Poisson probabilities are developed for the nonlinear spectral functions commonly encountered in X-ray astronomy. It is argued that these methods offer significant advantages over the commonly used alternatives called minimum chi-squared because they rely on less pervasive statistical approximations and so may be expected to remain valid for data of poorer quality. Extensive numerical simulations of the maximum likelihood method are reported which verify that the best-fit parameter value and confidence region calculations are correct over a wide range of input spectra.

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