Tutorial Information For Students
Contents
Tutorials
A mixture of data types are provided. It is not expected that you will completely reduce every data set in every tutorial. We note which are the simplest examples for beginners, and you can also prioritise on the basis of what you are most intererested in. It is more important that you learn the skills in order to repeat the basic processes on your own data. We do not want you to follow a recipe blindly just to get to the end, better that you get half as far but try different routes based on your own understanding.
Keep careful notes of what you do; keep track of how you process different data and where you store it (e.g. which AIPS number). You will use some of the same data sets for several different tutorials and the calibration derived in one session may be the starting point for the next. Practice in record-keeping is an important part of this school, so make sure that you are going to be able to understand what you did in a month or a year's time! You can keep a notebook, or make electronic notes and (s)ftp them back to your home institute. There are no printing facilities at the school.
Basic
Tutorials 1-3
These cover the basic software, calibration and imaging of cm-wave interferometry data using MERLIN and EVN examples. We hope that all students will be able to work through each example but if you get left behind you can concentrate on one type of data.
Spectral Line
Tutorial 4
This covers cm-wave spectral line data. You will not have time to reduce all four data sets in one session; you will need to choose whether to start with masers or HI, and whether to get practice on the simplest maser data set, or to tackle more complicated calibration, or VLBI data.
High Frequency
Full support for IRAM data reduction is only available during Tutorial 5.
Please try and make the most of this; we can try and answer basic questions later on but the GILDAS experts are only attending on Wednesday.
Polarization and Array Combination
Tutorials 6 and 7
The techniques in these tutorials will be useful in many situations; for example you can use polarization products to check the fidelity of total intensity data; you will almost certainly at some point in your career have to combine data on different scales from different arrays. If you have some previous experience you can pick which you are most interested in to start with, out of MERLIN or EVN, continuum or line; MERLIN+VLA or EVN+MERLIN; you will probably be able to get more done. Beginners: once you are happy with the fundamentals of calibration and imaging from tutorials 2 and 3, we hope that you will have time to try at least one example from each of 6 and 7; tutorial 6 uses the same data sets as in 2 and 3.
Image Analysis
Tutorial 8
Everyone should get some practice in this tutorial; beginners in recognising the limitations of interferometry images and how the resolution and dynamic range are flexible and can be tailored to the relevant science goals. More experienced students can practice analysis methods or advanced manipulation on their favourite types of data.
Student groups
There should be enough workstations for you to have one each but you will get more out of the school if you collaborate with other students. We have tried to allocate you to groups of 3/4 based on any common scientific interests and a range of technical experience, where this information was provided. These are NOT compulsory groups, you are welcome to swap, but please do feel free to ask your fellow students as well as tutors if you are stuck - or, if you are more experienced, remember that helping your colleagues may deepen your understanding (but also feel free to say when you want to concentrate on your own!).
Berciano-Alba, Eliasdottir, Olsson
Mosquera, Kozlowski, Serylak
Carrasco Gonzalez, Hyouk, Zhang
Baehren, Magnusson, Mahmud
Coffey, Deroo, Dumas
O'Dowd, Oh, Pawlik
Raban, Torstensson, Tudose
Rahman, Sanchez Sutil, Sohn
Constantinescu, Paraficz, Thomas, Wong-McSweeney
Espinosa, Lee, Moloney
Akheel, Begum, Bezrukovs
Bell, Guerra, Sansa
Chi, Oerlemans, Olaniyan
Allsopp, Cavalie, Lommen
Intema, More, Mort
Kettenis, McAlpine, Michalowski
Casasola, Casu, Montes Garcia, Nissen
Sabbatini, Uddin, Joshi
Beaupuits, Melotte, Morgado
Antonova, Singh, Verhoelst
Pizzo, Rastorgueva, Zhao
Montenegro Montes, Roca, Sokolov