Choosing
File
ALMA Calibrator Selection Tool...
will launch
the first version of a simple calibrator selection tool for ALMA. It currently
uses a calibrator list from OVRO for demonstration purposes.
The tool allows the specification of a RA, Dec, presently only in J2000 coordinates, and a radius within which to search for calibrators. Entering values into these fields and then pressing the ``Filter'' button will display a list of calibrators found within the circle of the radius specified, centered on the RA, Dec given.
Additionally, pressing the ``Best Phase Cal'' button will select the ``best'' calibrator within that circle. Presently the ``best'' algorithm is simply selecting the closest calibrator. If better algorithms are provided for selecting Phase, Amplitude and Pointing Calibrators then they will be implemented.
The calibrator tool is integrated with System View target definitions in two ways. Firstly, if there is an Observing Target selected in the System View (i.e. within a Scheduling Block), when the Calibrator Selection Tool starts, it will be initialised with the RA and Dec of that Target. Selecting other science targets will update the Calibrator Selection Tool with the new target's RA and Dec.
Secondly, if you filter within a radius as above to produce a list of calibrators and then select a particular calibrator, the ``Select As...'' button will be enabled if you also have a system view Observing Target (or a SchedBlock with only one Observing target) selected. Pressing this button provides a dialogue which will allow the chosen calibrator to be added to the Scheduling Block. Options are provided to add the calibrator as any (or all) of the calibrator types. Additionally, there is an option to copy the spectral specifications from the science target into the calibrator target definition.
The ALMA OT Team, 2012 May 25