1.3.1.0 ms.continuumsub

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ms.continuumsub - Function

1.3.1 Continuum fitting and subtraction in uv plane

Description

This function provides a means of continuum determination and subtraction by fitting a polynomial of desired order to a subset of channels in each time-averaged uv spectrum. The fit is used to model the continuum in all channels (not just those used in the fit), for subtraction, if desired. Use the fitspw parameter to limit the spectral windows processed and the range of channels used to estimate the continuum in each (avoid channels containing spectral lines). The default solution interval ’int’ will result in per-integration continuum fits for each baseline. The mode parameter indicates how the continuum model (the result of the fit) should be used: ’subtract’ will store the continuum model in the MODEL_DATA column and subtract it from the CORRECTED_DATA column; ’replace’ will replace the CORRECTED_DATA column with the continuum model (useful if you want to image the continuum model result); and ’model’ will only store the continuum model in the MODEL_DATA column (the CORRECTED_DATA is unaffected).

It is important to start the ms tool with nomodify=False so that changes to the dataset will be allowed (see example below).

For now, the only way to recover the un-subtracted CORRECTED_DATA column is to use calibrater.correct() again.

Note that the MODEL_DATA and CORRECTED_DATA columns must be present for continuumsub to work correctly. The function will warn the user if they are not present, and abort. To add these scratch columns (for now), close the ms tool, then start a calibrater or an imager tool, which will add the scratch columns. Then restart the ms tool, and try continuumsub again.

Options for shifting known bright sources to the phase center and for editing based on the rms fit will be added in the near future.

Arguments


Inputs
field	Select fields to fit
	allowed:	any
	Default:	variant
fitspw	Spectral windows/channels to use for fitting the continuum; default all spectral windows in all channels
	allowed:	any
	Default:	variant
spw	Select spectral windows and channels from which to subtract a continuum estimate; default: all channels in all spectral windows for which the continuum was estimated
	allowed:	any
	Default:	variant
solint	Continuum fit timescale (units optional)
	allowed:	any
	Default:	variant int
fitorder	Polynomial order for fit
	allowed:	int
	Default:	0
mode	Desired use of fit model (see below)
	allowed:	string
	Default:	subtract

Returns
bool

Example

ms.fromfits(’ngc5921.ms’,’/aips++/data/demo/NGC5921.fits’)
ms.close()
cb.open(’ngc5921.ms’)  # add MODEL_DATA, CORRECTED_DATA columns
cb.close()
ms.open(’ngc5921.ms’,nomodify=False);    # writable!
ms.continuumsub(field=2,fitspw=’0:5~9;50~59’,
                 solint=0.0,fitorder=1,mode=’sub’)
ms.done()

    This example will fit a linear continuum to channels 5-9 and 50-59 in
    spectral window 0 in each scan-averaged spectrum for field 2, and
    store the result in the MODEL\_DATA column and subtract it from the
    CORRECTED\_DATA column.

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