Overview:

The tclean task forms images from visibilities and reconstructs a sky model.

tclean handles continuum images and spectral line cubes, supports outlier fields, contains point-source CLEAN based algorithms as well as options for multi-scale and wideband image reconstruction, widefield imaging correcting for the w-term, full primary-beam imaging and joint mosaic imaging (with heterogeneous array support for ALMA). Parallelization of the major cycle is also available.

Image reconstruction in CASA typically comprises an outer loop of major cycles and an inner loop of minor cycles. The major cycle implements transforms between the data and image domains and the minor cycle operates purely in the image domain. Together, they implement an iterative weighted $\chi^2$ minimization that solves the measurement equation. Minor cycle algorithms can have their own (different) optimization schemes and the imaging framework and task interface allow for considerable freedom in choosing options separately for each step of the process.

 

Operating Modes: 

The tclean task can be configured to perform either full iterative image reconstruction or to run each step separately. Parameters for data selection, image definition, gridding and deconvolution algorithms, restoration and primary beam setup are shared between all operational modes.

Examples (LINK) are provided for each of the following usage modes.

Imaging and Deconvolution Iterations:

Construct the PSF and Dirty image and apply a deconvolution algorithm to reconstruct a Sky model. A series of major and minor cycle iterations are usually performed. The output sky model is then restored and optionally PB-corrected. The Sky model can optionally be saved in the MS during the last major cycle.

Make PSF and PB:

Make only the Point Spread Function and the Primary Beam, along with auxiliary weight images (a single pixel image containing sum-of-weight per plane, and (for mosaic and aprojection) a weight image containing the weighted sum of PB square).

Make a Residual/Dirty Image:

Make a dirty image, or a new residual image using an existing or specified model image. This step requires the presence of the sum-of-weight and weight images (for normalization) constructed during the PSF and PB generation step.

Model Prediction:

Save a sky model in the MeasurementSet for later use in calibration (virtual model or by actual prediction into a model column).

PB-Correction:

Divide out the Primary Beam from the restored Sky image.

Restoration:

Specify a restoring beam and re-restore the model image.

 

 

Other Options:

Handling Large Data and Image Sizes

Parallelization of the major cycle is available for continuum imaging and of both major and minor cycles for cube imaging. To manage memory use for very large image cubes, a channel chunking option is also provided.

User Interaction

Options for user interaction include interactive masking and editing of iteration control parameters and the output log files can be used to diagnose some problems.

Several convenience features are also available, such as operating on the MS in read-only mode (which does not require write permissions), the ability to restart and continue imaging runs without incuring the unnecessary cost of an inital major cycle or PSF construction and the optional return of a python dictionary that contains the convergence history of the run.

Scripting Controls

Finer control can be achieved using the PySynthesisImager tools  to run (for example) only image domain deconvolution or to insert methods for automatic mask generation (for example) in between the existing major/minor cycle loops or to connect external methods or algorithms for either the minor or major cycles.
 

 

Functional Blocks of Parameters:

The tclean parameters are arranged in the following functional blocks. As a general rule, sub-parameters will appear (and be used) only when a parent parameter has a specific value. This means that for a given set of choices (e.g. deconvolution or gridding algorithm) only parameters that are relevant to that choice will be visible to the user when " inp() " is invoked. It is advised that this task interface be used even when constructing tclean scripts that call the task as a python call " tclean(....) " to understand which parameters are relevant to the run and which are not.

 

Data Selection

Selection parameters allow the definition of a subset of the supplied MS (or list of MSs) on which the imaging is to operate. 

 

Image Definition

The image coordinate system(s) and shape(s) can be set up to form single images (from a single field or from multiple fields forming a mosaic) or multiple fields to include smaller outlier fields, facetted images, single plane wideband images (with 1 or more Taylor terms to model spectra), 3D spectral cubes with multiple channels, 3D images with multiple Stokes planes, 4D images with frequency channels and Stokes planes. Various combinations of all these options are also supported.

 

Gridding Options

Options for convolutional resampling include standard gridding using a prolate spheroidal function, the use of FTs of Fresnel kernels for W-Projection and the use of baseline aperture illumination functions for A-Projection and Mosaicing. Combinations of these options are also available.  For some options, primary beams (LINK) may be specified externally too.

 

Deconvolution Options

All our algorithms follow the Cotton-Schwab CLEAN style of major and minor cycles with the details of the deconvolution algorithm usually contained within the minor cycle and operating in the image domain. Options include Hogbom CLEAN, Clark CLEAN, Multi-Scale CLEAN and Multi-Term CLEAN (with Multi-Scale support).   Several options for making masks (LINK), including automasking, are also provided.

 

Data Weighting

Options for data weighting for imaging include Natural, Uniform and Robust weighting schemes along with an optional UV taper.

 

Iteration Control

Iterations are controlled by user parameters (gain, niter, etc..) as well as stopping criteria that decide when to exit minor cycle iterations and trigger the next major cycle, and also when to terminate the major-minor loop. These stopping criteria include reaching iteration limits, convergence thresholds, and signs of divergence with appropriate messages displayed in the log.

 

Output Images:

Depending on the operation being run, a subset of the following output images will be written to disk.

imagename = 'try'

 

try.psf	Point Spread Function
try.pb	Primary Beam
try.residual	Residual Image (or initial Dirty Image)
try.model	Model Image after deconvolution
try.image	Restored output image
try.image.pbcor	Primary Beam corrected image
try.mask	Deconvolution mask
try.sumwt	A single pixel image containing sum of weights per plane
try.weight	Image of un-normalized sum of PB-square (for mosaics and A-Projection)
try.psf.tt0, try.psf.tt1, try.psf.tt2, try.model.tt0, try.model.tt1, try.residual.tt0, try.residual.tt1, try.image.tt0, try.image.tt1, etc...	Multi-term images representing Taylor coefficients (of polynomials that model the sky spectrum)
try.workdirectory ( try.n1.psf, try.n2.psf, try.n3.psf, try.n1.residual, try.n2.residual, try.n3.residual, try.n1.weight, try.n2.weight, try.n3.weight, try.n1.gridwt, try.n2.gridwt, etc... )	Scratch images written within a 'work directory' for parallel imaging runs. For continuum imaging, they are automatically gathered to produce the output images without the "nX" in the names. For cube imaging, they are reference-concatenated at the end to produce single output cubes.