Calibration Plan

Last Update: JeffMangum - 16 Aug 2007

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Current Draft

CalibrationPlan.pdf: 2006-09-06 Version. Note that this document is an overview of the detailed descriptions of each type of calibration given in the "example" documents.

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Calibration Planning and TelCal

Parallel development of the software capabilities for acquiring and processing calibration measurements is being developed as part of TelCal. For example, the TelCal developers have plans for:

• How TelCal results flow through the telescope calibration analysis process
• How to handle telescope calibration input/output
• Some thoughts on how to use and reuse various types of calibration
• Adaptation of the SDM to accommodate calibration measurements
• TelCal planning documents, including:
  • TelCal Software Development Plan
  • TelCal Design Document
  • ALMA Calibration Data Model
  • TelCal Software Engines Description (draft)

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Calibration Plan Development "Roadmap"

The following figure represents the ALMA calibration plan "roadmap". The major input categories in this diagram are:

• ALMA Design Documentation and Experience: The development of each calibration measurement starts with the low-level science, system, and calibration requirements augmented with experience from the development and use of other radio and millimeter interferometers.
• Calibration Examples/Descriptions: Atomic level descriptions of each type of calibration based on the science requirements and system characteristics. These descriptions list the measurements made during a calibration measurement and any issues or options to be considered in their development.
• Hardware/Software Calibration Observation Sequences: In collaboration with the Computing, Frontend, Backend, and Systems IPTs the example descriptions of each calibration type are collected into an observation sequence. These then represent ``scheduling block'' level definitions of a calibration measurement.
• Observing Modes: Using the observation sequences developed for each type of calibration, appropriately sequenced calibration measurements (with input from the Calibration Matrix of predecessors) are coupled to the various ALMA observing modes.
  

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Calibration Matrix

Current version of the Calibration Matrix which lists dependences between various types of calibration measurement.

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Calibration Plan Action Item List

Assigned to	Due date	Description	State	Notify
JeffMangum, MarkHoldaway, JimGibson	2006-04-01	Update "Direct Antenna Gain Measurements" section of Amplitude and Flux Calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed	JeffMangum, MarkHoldaway, JimGibson	edit
MarkHoldaway, JohnRicher	2004-10-15	Update WVR calibration description of Phase Calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed	MarkHoldaway, JohnRicher	edit
JeffMangum	2005-11-01	Update calibration examples in Calibration Plan. Need this in advance of amplitude calibration meeting 2005 August 25.	closed		edit
JeffMangum	2006-09-01	Add calibration "dependencies" to Calibration Plan.	closed	JeffMangum	edit
JeffMangum, MarkHoldaway, JimGibson	2004-10-01	Update amplitude calibration section of Calibration Plan. Done, but "Direct Antenna Gain Measurements" section needs revision.	closed	JeffMangum, MarkHoldaway, JimGibson	edit
MarkHoldaway, JohnRicher	2004-10-01	Update phase calibration section of Calibration Plan. Done, but WVR information needs update.	closed	MarkHoldaway, JohnRicher	edit
JeffMangum	2004-10-01	Update bandpass calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed		edit
MarkHoldaway	2004-10-01	Update polarization calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed	MarkHoldaway	edit
JeffMangum, RobertLucas	2004-10-01	Update pointing calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed	JeffMangum, RobertLucas	edit
JohnConway	2004-10-01	Update antenna location calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed		edit
RobertLucas	2004-10-01	Update antenna and electronic delay calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed		edit
JeffMangum	2004-10-01	Update optics calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed	JeffMangum	edit
MarkHoldaway	2004-10-01	Update total power calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed		edit
MarkHoldaway	2004-10-01	Update primary beam calibration section of Calibration Plan.	closed		edit
RobertLucas	2004-10-01	Update archiving and accessing calibration quantities section of Calibration Plan. At this point I do not see anything to change - but we'll discuss this in the SSR and computing IPT	closed		edit

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