Speaker
Dr
Oleg Smirnov
(NWO/ASTRON)
Description
Calibration of observational data from the next generation of radio telescopes
presents a number of unique challenges, not only in terms of pure computational
volume, but also in terms of managing complexity. In general, the calibration
process involves constructing a combined model of the instrument and the
observed sky, and fitting that model to the observations. Due to the great
variety of sky sources and instruments, specific models can be very elaborate,
but also very different from each other.
The MeqTree package attempts to address this problem by providing a very
flexible model construction & fitting toolkit which, in principle, should be
applicable to all existing and future instruments. Using MeqTrees, inscrutably
complicated and detailed models ("trees") may be constructed. Python plays two
critical roles in taming that complexity:
* TDL (Tree Definition Language), which is the language used to build up our models,
is underpinned by Python. TDL allows for very rapid development of trees for
simulation and calibration.
* The MeqBrowser, written completely in Python/PyQt, is a graphical browser for
running, examining and debugging the trees.
The talk will provide a brief overview of radio interferometry, describe the
calibration and simulation problems we face, and show how Python has enabled
some crucial breakthroughs in the process.
Author
Dr
Oleg Smirnov
(NWO/ASTRON)
