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Difference between ground calibration and on-orbit calibration made in August 2008 is show shown on the plot below separately for each of 10 segments along a crystal. Each histogram entry represents difference in asymmetry calibration constants for one crystal, converted to equivalent position bias in mm, using average asymmetry slope( 0.0022 per mm).

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The error mentioned above was the biggest, but not the only source of systematic errors in asymmetry calibration. When I compared the calibrations based on data collected in  August 2008 and in October 2009, the difference shows systematic behaviour with position along the crystal:

This effect looks smaller than effect of the error in ground calibration procedure, but it affects all crystals. The change of asymmetry slope demonstrate substantial variations from crystal to crystal, but strongly correlated with the time drift of energy scale for trhe same crystal, as shown on the following plot: Image Added
This correlation suggests that the drop of light yield is caused by increase of light absorption in the crystal due to radiation damage. In the crystal most sensitive to the radiation damage the systematic bias in longitudinal position is ~3 mm per segment.The evolution of asymmetry calibration in this crystal during first 1 year is shown on the following plot: Image Added
Each curve corresponds to period of 6 Ms (~2 month)

Conclusion is folowing:

  • we can't use one calibration file for while 2 -year period, we have to update it every 2-3 month. 
    • 6 files were generated for the period august 2008 - october 2009
  • we really need to generate asymmetry calibration for the period October 16 2009 (since this date GCR files become empty due to software bug)
  • no problems for earth limb data reprocessing - we can use August 2008 calibration file.