EVLA 6cmWideband Tutorial SN2010FZ
Overview
This article describes the calibration and imaging of a single-pointing 6cm EVLA wideband continuum dataset on the galaxy NGC2967 (UGC5180) which was the location of the supernova candidate SN2010FZ. No supernova was detected in this observation, but the galactic continuum emission from this face-on spiral is adequately imaged. The data were taken in RSRO mode, with 1024 MHz of bandwidth in each of two widely spaced basebands (comprised each of 8 128 MHz spectral windows), spanning 4.5 to 7.5 GHz. We will use wideband imaging techniques in this tutorial.
This is a more advanced tutorial, and if you are a relative novice (and particularly for EVLA continuum calibration and imaging), it is strongly recommended that you start with the EVLA Continuum Tutorial 3C391 before tackling this dataset. We will not include basic information on CASA processing in this tutorial.
CASA Versions
This tutorial was written for the CASA Version 3.2.1 (release r15198 26 May 2011).
Obtaining the Data
The scheduling block (SB) processed appears in the EVLA archive under program AS1015 as AS1015_sb1658169_1.55388.89474846065 and was run on 2010-07-11 from 21:28 to 22:28 UT (size 37.74GB).
For the purposes of this tutorial, we have provided the raw SDM data (as would be extracted from the archive) as well as measurement sets created by filling the data (with the importevla task) and upon time-averaging to 10s (after application of the online flags).
To start your tutorial, depending on which dataset you start with, proceed to:
- To start with the raw SDM data: Start with the section below titled "Importing your EVLA data from SDM". This is where you would start if you were reducing data from the archive.
- To start with the raw filled MS: Start with the section below titled "Application of Online Flags and Averaging your MS".
- To start with the flagged and averaged MS: Start with the section below titled "Examining and Flagging your Averaged MS".
Importing your EVLA data from SDM
For the purposes of this tutorial, we assume that the SDM is resident on disk, in this case at the location /lustre/smyers/AS1015/AS1015_sb1658169_1.55388.89474846065. Use the actual location of your data when you carry out the commands.
The listsdm task will print out a summary of the scans, fields, spectral windows, and antennas present in your SDM.
# In CASA
listsdm('/lustre/smyers/AS1015/AS1015_sb1658169_1.55388.89474846065')
In the logger you should see:
================================================================================ SDM File: /lustre/smyers/AS1015/AS1015_sb1658169_1.55388.89474846065 ================================================================================ Observer: Dr. Alicia M. Soderberg Facility: EVLA, D-configuration Observed from 2010/07/11/21:28:28.41 to 2010/07/11/22:28:17.73 (UTC) Total integration time = 3589.32 seconds (1.00 hours) Scan listing: Timerange (UTC) Scan FldID FieldName SpwIDs Intent(s) 21:28:28.41 - 21:29:27.40 1 0 J0925+0019 [0, 1] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:29:27.40 - 21:30:57.16 2 0 J0925+0019 [0, 1] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:30:57.16 - 21:32:26.91 3 0 J0925+0019 [0, 1] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:32:26.91 - 21:33:56.67 4 0 J0925+0019 [0, 1] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:33:56.67 - 21:34:56.50 5 0 J0925+0019 [0, 1] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:34:56.50 - 21:35:56.34 6 0 J0925+0019 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:35:56.34 - 21:37:26.09 7 0 J0925+0019 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:37:26.09 - 21:38:25.93 8 0 J0925+0019 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:38:25.93 - 21:39:55.68 9 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:39:55.68 - 21:41:25.44 10 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:41:25.44 - 21:42:55.19 11 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:42:55.19 - 21:44:24.94 12 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:44:24.94 - 21:45:54.70 13 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:45:54.70 - 21:47:24.45 14 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:47:24.45 - 21:47:54.37 15 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:47:54.37 - 21:49:24.12 16 0 J0925+0019 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_PHASE 21:49:24.12 - 21:50:53.88 17 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:50:53.88 - 21:52:23.63 18 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:52:23.63 - 21:53:53.39 19 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:53:53.39 - 21:55:23.14 20 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:55:23.14 - 21:56:52.89 21 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:56:52.89 - 21:58:22.65 22 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:58:22.65 - 21:58:52.57 23 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 21:58:52.57 - 22:00:22.32 24 0 J0925+0019 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_PHASE 22:00:22.32 - 22:01:52.07 25 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:01:52.07 - 22:03:21.83 26 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:03:21.83 - 22:04:51.58 27 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:04:51.58 - 22:06:21.34 28 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:06:21.34 - 22:07:51.09 29 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:07:51.09 - 22:09:20.85 30 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:09:20.85 - 22:09:50.76 31 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:09:50.76 - 22:11:20.52 32 0 J0925+0019 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_PHASE 22:11:20.52 - 22:12:50.27 33 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:12:50.27 - 22:14:20.02 34 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:14:20.02 - 22:15:49.78 35 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:15:49.78 - 22:17:19.53 36 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:17:19.53 - 22:18:49.29 37 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:18:49.29 - 22:20:19.04 38 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:20:19.04 - 22:20:48.96 39 1 SN2010FZ [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] OBSERVE_TARGET 22:20:48.96 - 22:22:18.71 40 0 J0925+0019 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_PHASE 22:22:18.71 - 22:23:48.47 41 2 3C286 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_BANDPASS CALIBRATE_AMPLI 22:23:48.47 - 22:25:18.22 42 2 3C286 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_BANDPASS CALIBRATE_AMPLI 22:25:18.22 - 22:26:47.98 43 2 3C286 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_BANDPASS CALIBRATE_AMPLI 22:26:47.98 - 22:28:17.73 44 2 3C286 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] CALIBRATE_BANDPASS CALIBRATE_AMPLI Spectral window information: SpwID #Chans Ch0(MHz) ChWidth(kHz) TotBW(MHz) Baseband 0 64 7686.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 1 64 7836.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 2 64 4488.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 3 64 4616.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 4 64 4744.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 5 64 4872.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 6 64 5000.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 7 64 5128.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 8 64 5256.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 9 64 5384.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_4 10 64 6488.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 11 64 6616.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 12 64 6744.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 13 64 6872.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 14 64 7000.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 15 64 7128.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 16 64 7256.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 17 64 7384.0 2000.0 128.0 BB_8 Field information: FldID Code Name RA Dec SrcID 0 D J0925+0019 09:25:07.82 +000.19.13.933 0 1 NONE SN2010FZ 09:42:04.77 +000.19.51.000 1 2 K 3C286 13:31:08.29 +030.30.32.959 2 Antennas (27): ID Name Station Diam.(m) Lat. Long. 0 ea01 W09 25.0 +000.00.00.0 +000.00.00.0 1 ea02 E02 25.0 +033.53.51.0 -107.37.25.2 2 ea03 E09 25.0 +033.54.01.1 -107.37.04.4 3 ea04 W01 25.0 +033.53.53.6 -107.36.45.1 4 ea05 W08 25.0 +033.54.00.5 -107.37.05.9 5 ea06 N06 25.0 +033.53.53.0 -107.37.21.6 6 ea08 N01 25.0 +033.54.10.3 -107.37.06.9 7 ea09 E06 25.0 +033.54.01.8 -107.37.06.0 8 ea10 N03 25.0 +033.53.57.7 -107.36.55.6 9 ea11 E04 25.0 +033.54.04.8 -107.37.06.3 10 ea12 E08 25.0 +033.53.59.7 -107.37.00.8 11 ea13 N07 25.0 +033.53.55.1 -107.36.48.9 12 ea14 E05 25.0 +033.54.12.9 -107.37.07.2 13 ea15 W06 25.0 +033.53.58.8 -107.36.58.4 14 ea16 W02 25.0 +033.53.56.4 -107.37.15.6 15 ea17 W07 25.0 +033.54.00.9 -107.37.07.5 16 ea18 N09 25.0 +033.53.54.8 -107.37.18.4 17 ea19 W04 25.0 +033.54.19.0 -107.37.07.8 18 ea20 N05 25.0 +033.53.59.1 -107.37.10.8 19 ea21 E01 25.0 +033.54.08.0 -107.37.06.7 20 ea22 N04 25.0 +033.53.59.2 -107.37.05.7 21 ea23 E07 25.0 +033.54.06.1 -107.37.06.5 22 ea24 W05 25.0 +033.53.56.5 -107.36.52.4 23 ea25 N02 25.0 +033.53.57.8 -107.37.13.0 24 ea26 W03 25.0 +033.54.03.5 -107.37.06.2 25 ea27 E03 25.0 +033.54.00.1 -107.37.08.9 26 ea28 N08 25.0 +033.54.00.5 -107.37.02.8
We use the importevla task to convert the SDM dataset from the archive to a CASA Measurement Set (MS).
# In CASA
importevla(asdm='/lustre/smyers/AS1015/AS1015_sb1658169_1.55388.89474846065', \
vis='SN2010FZ_filled.ms',online=True,flagzero=True, \
shadow=True,applyflags=False,tbuff=1.5,flagbackup=False)
Here we had the task create (but not apply) the online flagging commands, plus flags for zero-clipping and shadowing. The timeranges for the online flags were extended by 1.5sec (the integration time was 1sec) to account for some timing mismatches present in the EVLA data at this time. These online flags indicated times where the antennas were not on source (e.g. slewing) or had other detectable faults. The created flagging commands will be stored in the FLAG_CMD MS table and can be applied later. Note that if you set applyflags=True here then after filling the task will go ahead and apply the flags for you.
For the purposes of this exercise, in order to save time and disk space, we have turned off the automatic creation of flag column backups by setting
flagbackup=False
. If we make a mistake and need to recover flags then we will have to rerun all previous commands. We recommend that for real data processing that you leave the default value flagbackup=True in this and subsequent tasks.
You now have a MS called SN2010FZ_filled.ms in your working area. This should be 37GB like the SDM.