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Moffat

Usage

moffat  
x1c # x-coordinate of centroid
x2c # y-coordinate of centroid
q # axis ratio (minor/major)
pa # position angle (in radians; counter-clockwise from +x)
Amp # amplitude (normalisation; peak surface brightness)
alpha # structural parameter (controls width of the profile)
beta # structural parameter (controls the wings of the profile)

Surface Brightness Profile

After rotating by pa-\text{pa} into the frame aligned with the light profile (major axis along x1x_1, minor along x2x_2), define:

r2=x12+x22q2r^2 = x_1^2 + \frac{x_2^2}{q^2}

The Moffat intensity is given by:

I(r)=Aβ1πα2(1+r2α2)βI(r) = A \cdot \frac{\beta - 1}{\pi \alpha^2} \cdot \left(1 + \frac{r^2}{\alpha^2}\right)^{-\beta}

where:

  • AA is the amplitude (Amp), the peak surface brightness
  • α\alpha sets the core width
  • β\beta controls the steepness of the wings
  • qq is the axis ratio