ALMA service data analysis and level 2 quality assurance with CASA

TL;DR

This paper discusses the implementation of ALMA's data quality assurance system, especially level 2, utilizing CASA to handle increasing data volume and complexity effectively.

Contribution

It introduces the ALMA data quality assurance system based on CASA, highlighting lessons learned and improvements for managing large, complex astronomical data.

Findings

Successful integration of CASA in ALMA's QA system

Effective handling of increasing data volume and complexity

Lessons learned for future astronomical data processing

Abstract

The Atacama Large mm and sub-mm Array (ALMA) radio observatory is one of the world's largest astronomical projects. After the very successful conclusion of the first observation cycles Early Science Cycles 0 and 1, the ALMA project can report many successes and lessons learned. The science data taken interleaved with commissioning tests for the still continuing addition of new capabilities has already resulted in numerous publications in high-profile journals. The increasing data volume and complexity are challenging but under control. The radio-astronomical data analysis package "Common Astronomy Software Applications" (CASA) has played a crucial role in this effort. This article describes the implementation of the ALMA data quality assurance system, in particular the level 2 which is based on CASA, and the lessons learned.