面向射电日像仪的随机组结构剖析与文件设计

An Analysis of the Random-Group Data Format and a Design of the Data File Structure for a Solar Radio Heliograph

我国新一代厘米—分米波日像仪(Chinese Spectral Radio Heliograph,CSRH)已经进入了试观测调试阶段,设备误差修正、试观测数据的处理成为当前CSRH的重要工作。其中,有效地保存与快速处理试观测数据是数据处理的前提。在调研当前国内外射电干涉观测设备的基础上,深入分析了Aips++、CASA等当前主流射电天方数据处理软件对数据格式的支持情况,分析了射电天文领域的随机组(UVFITS)格式,给出了满足射电日像仪数据的随机组格式。实验表明,所生成的UVFITS文件可以被主流软件正确处理。对CSRH的研制起到了较好的推动作用,也对国内正在开展的其它大型射电观测数据存储有参考价值。

The CSRH （ Chinese Spectral Radio Heliograph） is a new generation radio heliograph working in the wavelengths of centimeters and decimeters. It has entered the test stage. At this stage it is important to study error corrections, instrumental calibrations, and observational data precessing for the CSRH to facilitate its development. Efficient data storage and high-performance data processing are crucial to these studies for the CSRH. In this paper, by investigating current radio interferometers in the world＇ and data formats supported by main-stream analysis softwares in radio astronomy （e.g. AIPS＋＋ and CASA）, we choose to analyze the widely adopted random-group format （UVFITS）. We then design the structure of a random-group data file for the CSRH to store needed data, including the uv, antenna, and object-information data. We also design and test a software protocol. Our experiment shows that such a data file can be read and processed successfully by the CASA software. Our study is expected to help the development of the CSRH and benefit research of other astronomical instruments.