Private parameters for program NMODEL

Contents

Overview

This document contains an overview of the parameter interface of the program NMODEL. The program also uses a number of public interfaces; references to these are also listed. show parameters that The remainder of the document describes the individual parameters in alphabetical order. This description centers on the Help texts, which have been designed to guide the user to the proper choice at each junction, even if his knowledge of the overall workings of the program is only superficial.

Descriptions of the individual parameters

References to public interfaces

See also:

Parameter ACTION

Prompt: Action
Expected input: Character *24: 1 value

        Specify action to perform:

   General:

        HELP      show some explanation on model lists
        HANDLE    select general model-handling branch

   Model construction:

        FIND    find sources in map (.WMP file)
        UPDATE  update sources by comparison with visibilities (.SCN file)

   Transfer of model to/from .SCN file:

        SAVE      save model data in .SCN file
        GET       get model from .SCN file

   Wholescale conversions of model list:

        CONVERT   Convert model list from epoch to epoch or coordinate to
                   coordinate with conversion of l,m coordinates and intensities
                   if necessary
        EDIT      Change model-list overall parameters without conversion of
                   coordinates and intensity (except possible field rotation if
                   converting from apparant <-> epoch)
        REDIT     Change reference coordinates and frequency. Intensities will
                   be corrected for spectral index only.
        FEDIT     As REDIT, but intensities will also be corrected for the
                   effect of different beams at different frequencies
        BEAM      Correct sources for attenuation by primary beam
        DEBEAM    Apply primary-beam attenuation to sources

   Utilities:

        FROM_OLD  convert old format source list (use B1950 or Apparent by
                   preference)
        TO_OLD    convert to old format source list
        NVS       make new version of model file if necessary
        CVXL      convert formats between machines

        QUIT    finish

Parameter AREA

Prompt: Map area: l,m, dl,dm
Expected input: Integer: 1 to 4 values

Specify the map area to be selected:

        l, m    position in grid spacings of centre of area
                0,0 is the map centre, increaing toward the upper right (i.e.
                 with DEcreasing RA and INcreasing DEC)

        dl, dm  horizontal and vertical area sizes

Parameter CALIBRATORS

Prompt: List of sources or *
Expected input: Integer: 1 to 128 values

Specify up to 128 numbers of sources in the model list that you want to use as
calibrators.

Parameter CONVERT_TO

Prompt: Target coordinate system
Expected input: Character *24: 1 value

Specify the coordinate system for the output model-list.

If you are CONVERTing, the output model list's coordinates and intensities will
reflect the new type, frequency, instrument and central coordinates.

If you are EDITing, the new data will be copied only, but the coordinates will
be rotated to the new Pole if you are converting between apparent and epoch.

Parameter FIND_TYPE

Prompt: Finding mode
Expected input: Character *24: 1 value

Specify how to select candidate sources:

        POS     Select sources with highest positive brightness
        ABS     Select sources with highest absolute brightness
        MANUAL  Select sources manually with the cursor on a GIDS screen.
                 Sources are selected by pushing MB1; MB3 will finish;
                 MB2 will not calculate position, but put grid point as clean
                 source

Parameter GIDS_SOURCES

Prompt: Select sources on GIDS display (Yes/No)?"
Expected input: Yes/No: 1 value

Specify if you want to point at sources on the GIDS display for the current map

Parameter ID_START

Prompt: Start identification number
Expected input: Integer: 1 value

Specify the start of the ID number to be used in the source list.

Parameter MAP_LIMIT

Prompt: Lower relative intensity limit
Expected input: Real: 1 value

Specify the lowest limit with respect to the maximum in the map that will be
considered a valid source

Parameter MAX_NUMBER

Prompt: Maximum number of sources to add
Expected input: Integer: 1 value

Specify the maximum number of sources that will be found.

Parameter OLD_FILE

Prompt: old model filename
Expected input: Character *80: 1 value

Specify the filename (includinhg extension) the an old-format RMODEL file to be
read or written.

Parameter REFERENCE_DATA

Prompt: RA, DEC, Freq, rot.,instr.
Expected input: DoublePrecision: 1 to 5 values

Specify

        RA, DEC (decimal degrees)
        precession rotation angle (degrees)
        spectral-index reference frequency (MHz)
        instrument code (0=WSRT; 1=ATCA)

for the new reference source list position.

Parameter REFERENCE_FREQ

Prompt: Reference frequency (MHz)
Expected input: DoublePrecision: 1 value

Specify the spectral index reference frequency (MHz).

Parameter REF_SCN_NODE

Prompt: File name
Expected input: Character *80: 1 value

Specify the node name with the model overall coordinates to use.

Instead of a file name you may reply with a '*'. You will then be prompted for
'manual' inpout of data, unless you are CONVRTing between apparent and epoch
coordinates.

Parameter REF_SCN_SET

Prompt: ONE sector for reference coordinates: grp.obs.fld.chn.seq
Expected input: Character *32: 1 to 64 values

Specify ONE .SCN-file sector from which the reference coordinates (RA, DEC,
frequency) are to be taken.

grp.obs.fld.chn.seq = group.obs.field.channel.sequence_number

Parameter UPDATE_CLUSTER

Prompt: Update cluster size in arcsec (l,m)
Expected input: Real: 1 to 2 values

Specify the cluster size for update in arcsec in the l and m direction.

Parameter UPDATE_MODE

Prompt: Update type
Expected input: Character *24: 1 value

Specify how the update process should proceed:

        SEPARATE        each source to be updated is looked at separately,
                         and they are fiddled to cater for close sources

        CLUSTER         sources are clustered to bypass closeness problems

        COMBINED        all sources solved in one go, with sub-clustering

        CONSTRAINED     use constraints and clustering. The standard
                         constraint used is to fix all variables for all
                         but the lowest intensity source

        L<type>         Loop up to 20 cycles till convergence:
                         Note that the loop option does not always
                         work, and is very slow. Preferably use for a
                         small number of well separated sources/clusters.

Parameter UPDATE_TYPE

Prompt: Update mode
Expected input: Character *24: 1 value

Specify the parameters to be redetermined per source in the update process.

   Position and flux:
        I       Intensity only
        LM      Position only
        ILM     Intensity and position
        SILM    Intensity, spectral index and position (requires a multichannel
                 observation with <bandwidth per channel>/<frequency> greater
                 than ..)

   Source size:
        EXTEND  Intensity and size parameters for elliptic-Gaussian model
                 (major/minor axes, position angle)

   Source polarisation:
        QUV     Stokes Q/I, U/I, V/I
        PESTIM  Estimate the total linear polarisation, and store it as Stokes
                 Q. NOTE that this improper use of the model list is not
                 recorded, so you it is your responsibility to interpret this
                 kluge correctly.

NOTES:
        1. All sources in the model are taken into account in determining the
residual visibilities on which the update fit is performed. However, no updates
are attempted for sources of type other than 0 nor for CLEAN components.
        If you want to protect one or more sources from being updated, you can
do so by temporarily changing their type (OPTION=MODIFY, MODIFY_OPTION=FEDIT,
see the Help text there).

        2. It is recommended that you use a set of interferometers that gives a
uniform baseline coverage, e.g. by selecting fixed-movable (FM) interferometers
only.

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newstar@nfra.nl