Third installment of Science Verification data
The third installment of Science Verification data is now available. There are several new datasets in this release corresponding to targets suggested by the community and listed on the Science Verification web page. We hope that you will find that the quality of these datasets is impressive, but please remember that ALMA is still in the construction phase, and we are continuously testing new observing modes. These observations are made using new equipment and software and thus may contain more idiosyncrasies than data released to PIs in Early Science. There are data reduction suggestions for these datasets provided in the form of a script, as well as additional information about the dataset in a README file.
This installment of Science Verification data contains the following:
- BR1202-0725 at z=4.7: redshifted CII line in Band 7
- IRAS16293: Band 6 observations centered on the CH3CN line
- Centaurus A: a 48pt mosaic of the central parsecs in Band 6
- Orion KL: several tunings combined to provide a spectral survey in Band 6
The data products released here contain raw, uncalibrated data together with the necessary calibration tables to allow users to try their hands at a complete data reduction process. In the same directory, we also provide the calibrated data, on which users can perform data analysis and post-processing. In addition, reference images generated from the reduced data sets are given as FITS files.
The Science Verification data sets are available through the ALMA Science Portal. Go to ALMA Data --> Science Verification and select the source. Here you will also find links to the CASA Guides.
We thank the large number of staff at the JAO and the ARCs who have participated in the commissioning activities, observations and data reduction that made this release possible.
Reminder: In order to reduce and/or analyze the ALMA data, users need to use the Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) package. The CASA package can be accessed through http://casa.nrao.edu. Feedback on the data and on the CASA software is always welcome!