The e-MERLIN Data Reduction Pipeline

TL;DR

The e-MERLIN Data Reduction Pipeline automates radio astronomy data processing using Python and AIPS, offering modular calibration, flagging, imaging, and diagnostic tools for efficient data analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a flexible, modular pipeline that automates key steps in e-MERLIN radio data reduction, integrating Python scripting with AIPS.

Findings

Automates calibration and flagging processes

Provides diagnostic plots for data quality assessment

Supports wide-field imaging

Abstract

Written in Python and utilising ParselTongue to interface with the Astronomical Image Processing System (AIPS), the e-MERLIN data reduction pipeline is intended to automate the procedures required in processing and calibrating radio astronomy data from the e-MERLIN correlator. Driven by a plain text file of input parameters, the pipeline is modular and can be run in stages by the user, depending on requirements. The software includes options to load raw data, average in time and/or frequency, flag known sources of interference, flag more comprehensively with SERPent, carry out some or all of the calibration procedures including self-calibration), and image in either normal or wide-field mode. It also optionally produces a number of useful diagnostic plots at various stages so that the quality of the data can be assessed. The software is available for download from the e-MERLIN website or via Github.