9 Simulation

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Chapter 9
Simulation

New in 3.4: Representative configurations for ALMA and ACA Cycle 1.

Important note on task names: Users are encouraged to use simobserve and simanalyze. The combined task simdata is still present, but will be removed in the future.

The capability for simulating observations and datasets from the JVLA and ALMA are an important use-case for CASA. This not only allows one to get an idea of the capabilities of these instruments for doing science, but also provides benchmarks for the performance and utility of the software for processing “realistic” datasets (with atmospheric and instrumental effects). CASA can calculate visibilities (create a measurement set) for any interferometric array, and calculate and apply calibration tables representing some of the most important corrupting effects. simobserve can also simulate total power observations, which can be combined with interferometric data in simanalyze (i.e. one would run simobserve twice, simanalyze once.)

Inside the Toolkit:

The simulator methods are in the sm tool. Many of the other tools are also helpful when constructing and analyzing simulations.

CASA’s simulation capabilities continue to be improved with each CASA release. For the most current information, please refer to http://www.casaguides.nrao.edu, and click on “Simulating Observations in CASA”. Following general CASA practice, the greatest flexibility and richest functionality is at the Toolkit level. The most commonly used procedures for interferometric and single dish simulation are encapsulated in the simobserve task.

9.1 Simulating ALMA with simobserve and simanalyze

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Chapter 9Simulation

Chapter 9
Simulation