The Pointing Self Calibration algorithm for aperture synthesis radio telescopes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a computationally efficient algorithm for calibrating direction-dependent effects in aperture synthesis radio telescopes, improving high dynamic range imaging by correcting antenna pointing errors and shape deformations.

Contribution

It presents a new mathematical framework and the Pointing SelfCal algorithm for antenna-based calibration of direction-dependent effects in radio telescopes.

Findings

The framework enables scalable, parallel computation.

The Pointing SelfCal algorithm effectively estimates antenna pointing errors.

Sensitivity analysis shows feasibility for real-time calibration.

Abstract

This paper is concerned with algorithms for calibration of direction dependent effects (DDE) in aperture synthesis radio telescopes (ASRT). After correction of Direction Independent Effects (DIE) using self-calibration, imaging performance can be limited by the imprecise knowledge of the forward gain of the elements in the array. In general, the forward gain pattern is directionally dependent and varies with time due to a number of reasons. Some factors, such as rotation of the primary beam with Parallactic Angle for Azimuth-Elevation mount antennas are known a priori. Some, such as antenna pointing errors and structural deformation/projection effects for aperture-array elements cannot be measured {\em a priori}. Thus, in addition to algorithms to correct for DD effects known a priori, algorithms to solve for DD gains are required for high dynamic range imaging. Here, we discuss a mathematical framework for antenna-based DDE calibration algorithms and show that this framework leads to computationally efficient optimal algorithms which scale well in a parallel computing environment. As an example of an antenna-based DD calibration algorithm, we demonstrate the Pointing SelfCal algorithm to solve for the antenna pointing errors. Our analysis show that the sensitivity of modern ASRT is sufficient to solve for antenna pointing errors and other DD effects. We also discuss the use of the Pointing SelfCal algorithm in real-time calibration systems and extensions for antenna Shape SelfCal algorithm for real-time tracking and corrections for pointing offsets and changes in antenna shape.