This document describes how to calibrate and image Australia Telescope Compact Array data with AIPS at the ATNF laboratory in Epping and at the ATCA observatory in Narrabri.
I have tried to provide two paths through the analysis procedure. First, a detailed exposition which attempts to explain what to do as well as why. Second, since this approach is unlikely to satisfy all users, I have also provided a more skeletal approach through the use of flow-charts and AIPS `adverb boxes'. The latter show examples of most of the major AIPS tasks that you will encounter and should help illuminate a less detailed path to success. However, some useful information which might help to avoid some pitfalls is necessarily lost with this simple guide. The calibration and imaging procedures are not trivial, and there are too many branches to provide a completely `black-box' approach for those who want it. I encourage all new users to take the time to learn the salient points of the relevant analysis techniques.
This manual does not try to teach you how to use AIPS. You should use the AIPS Cookbook for that or ask a colleague for instruction. Other documentation that may be useful to you is the ``Guide to Computing at the Radiophysics Laboratory'' for general information about the computing facilities available at Epping. Also, the NRAO synthesis workshop books are an excellent reference for information about aperture synthesis techniques. Finally, there is the detailed text book by Thompson, Moran, and Swenson called ``Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy''.
There is no path through AIPS for those who wish to make a full polarimetric calibration of ATCA data. Furthermore, even if you are interested only in total intensity, a full polarimetric calibration is required for the best results. To make such a calibration, you must use the alternative radio astronomy reduction package called MIRIAD. See § 3.3 for some help on when to use AIPS and when to use MIRIAD. MIRIAD also offers some other capabilities that do not exist in AIPS. In particular, a suite of tasks for multi-frequency synthesis work designed specifically for ATCA data. However, AIPS performs better in other areas, most notably those of visibility editing and image display and analysis (although the gap is steadily closing). Regardless, it is now quite feasible to analyze your data entirely within MIRIAD, whether you are doing spectral line or continuum work. A MIRIAD User's Guide for ATCA users is available from Bob Sault or myself. Please come and talk to either of us if you are unsure of what package or combination of packages is most suitable for your needs.
Before you can do any analysis, you must of course first obtain a computer account if this has not already been organized prior to your visit. This account will provide access to all relevant machines (Convex and workstations). Make sure that the member of teh computer group that sets up your account puts you in the aipsusr group. You should also have a workstation and disk booking before you visit Epping. These are made via Henrietta May (hmay@atnf.csiro.au) or myself (nkilleen@atnf.csiro.au); ideally you should arrange this booking before you visit the ATNF, otherwise you may find resources are not available.
In addition, before you try to run AIPS, you should have an AIPS user number. If you have not been allocated one, please contact Henrietta May or myself at Epping. If you already have a favourite number, please check with us to make sure it is available for use here (we are not necessarily consistent with NRAO's allocation system).
All criticisms and suggestions will be given due consideration and all plagiarism in this document is implicitly (and occasionally explicitly) acknowledged. My thanks to Dorothy Goddard for inserting tooth picks under her eyelids and wading through this manual.
Last update: 14/04/94
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