I-TRAIN

I-TRAIN #7: Polarization observations with ALMA

24 June 2021, 11:00 CEST

Materials:
- training video (YouTube)
- presentation
- hands-on

The European ARC Network invites users to an online training on polarization observations with ALMA. The session will be held on Thursday June 24, 2021, 11:00 CEST [Zoom link] In this training session, participants will learn about ALMA’s polarization capabilities and data products available in the archive. In particular instructions on how to inspect the diagnostic information on data calibration and how to produce polarization images will be given.

The duration of this training session will be about one hour and will include an interactive Q&A session. For questions do not hesitate to contact the Nordic ARC node at contact@nordic-alma.se.

Note: The tutors' presentation will be recorded and an edited version of the recording will be posted in the Science Portal after the session. The interactive Q&A will not be recorded.

I-TRAIN #1: imaging with the ALMA Pipeline
4 December 2020, 11:00 CET


Materials:
- training video (YouTube)
- presentation
- script
- instructions
- common questions
- tutorial dataset (5 GB download!)

In this training session participants will learn how to run the ALMA Science Pipeline for
their own scientific purposes. They will be guided on how to tweak different parameters
of the pipeline tasks to produce cleaned data cubes from publicly available ALMA data.
This will allow users to obtain products that are tailored to the specific requirements
of their science projects. 

Some preparations are needed to follow this tutorial in full. Attendees are kindly requested
to follow these instructions before the session. 

The duration of this training session, hosted by the Nordic ARC node, will be about an
hour and will include a live demo and an interactive Q&A session. For questions do not
hesitate to contact the Nordic node at contact@nordic-alma.se.

I‑TRAIN #2: ALMA Science Archive update and ARI‑L
15 December 2020, 11:00 CET

Materials:
- ARI-L presentation
- ALMA Science Archive presentation

In this training session on the use of ALMA data we present some recently
added functionality of the ALMA Science Archive like access to individual files,

the CARTA remote visualisation and the new ALMA VO services.
An overview over the European ALMA development project ARI-L will follow. ARI-L has
already delivered over 74000 science FITS files to the ALMA Science Archive completing
the existing ALMA products for Cycles 2-4.

I-TRAIN #3: UVMultiFit
15 January 2021, 11:00 CET

Materials:
- training video (YouTube)
- presentation
- dataset and scripts (~2Gb download)
- instructions
- Q&A session

The tool UVMultiFit is a versatile library for fitting models directly to visibility data.
Visibility fitting can be a powerful method to analyze interferometric data and extract
source information without the need to process image deconvolution. During the
third session you will learn how to use this tool on real, publicly available ALMA data. 

Some preparations are needed to follow this tutorial in full. Attendees are kindly requested
to fulfil the Requirements in these instructions before the session. Participants that require
support to install UVMultiFit in their computers or would like to request remote computer
access to follow this tutorial, please register here .

The duration of this training session, hosted by the Nordic ARC node, was about an
hour and will include a live demo and an interactive Q&A session. For questions do not
hesitate to contact the Nordic node at contact@nordic-alma.se.

I-TRAIN #4: ALMA WebLog  inspection
19 February 2021, 11:00 CET

Materials:
- instructions
- WebLog example
- presentation
- YouTube video

This I-TRAIN session serves as a tutorial on the inspection of ALMA WebLogs. WebLogs are produced by the ALMA pipeline and contain diagnostic information on data calibration and imaging.  This session will teach users how to interpret the WebLog information and how to use it to guide re-imaging ALMA data.

Before the session, attendees are kindly requested to follow these instructions. Attendees should either download this WebLog example or prepare to use their own WebLogs from their own projects. Presentation slides are available. 

The duration of this training session, hosted by the UK ARC node, was about one hour and will include a live demo and an interactive Q&A session. For questions do not hesitate to contact the UK ARC node at alma-contact@jb.man.ac.uk (with subject WebLog I-TRAIN).

Note: The tutors' presentation will be recorded and an edited version of the recording will be posted in the Science Portal after the session. The interactive Q&A will not be recorded.

I‑TRAIN #5: Simulating ALMA Observations with the OST
11 March 2021, 11:00 CET

Materials:
- http://almaost.jb.man.ac.uk/
- presentation slides 
- YouTube video

The European ARC Network offered an online training on simulating observations with the ALMA Observation Support Tool (OST) on Thursday March 11, 2021, 11:00 CET [Zoom link].  The OST allows users to test the effect of differing array configurations, frequency tunings, pointing strategies and weather conditions on imaging (2D or 3D) a sky-model of their choosing. The output images can be used to support the scientific and technical justifications of their ALMA proposals or for comparing model data to existing ALMA observations. In this training session participants will learn how to work with the OST to ensure robust and meaningful ALMA simulations.

No specific preparations is needed to follow this tutorial in full, the OST is available online at http://almaost.jb.man.ac.uk/. If one wishes to simulate a sky-model of their favourite target these should be prepared in FITS format following the help documentation here (http://almaost.jb.man.ac.uk/help/#fitsinfo). 

The duration of this training session, hosted by the UK ARC node, is about one hour and includes a live demo and an interactive Q&A session. For questions do not hesitate to contact the UK ARC node at alma-contact@jb.man.ac.uk (with subject OST I-TRAIN). 

Note: The tutors' presentation has been recorded and an edited version of the recording will be posted here soon. The interactive Q&A has not been recorded. Presentation slides are available.

I‑TRAIN #6: Improving image fidelity through self-calibration
25 May 2021, 11:00 CEST

Materials:

- training video (YouTube)
- presentation Self-Calibration Basic
- presentation Self-Calibration Advanced
- Q&A session
- instructions
- dataset and script
  (1.8 Gb download!)

In this session you will learn how to self-calibrate your interferometric images to improve their image fidelity. In particular, you will learn criteria to decide whether to self-calibrate, how to choose parameter values - and when to stop - and thus, how to improve the image dynamic range and bring faint details out of the noise.

Before the session, attendees will be requested to do some preparations in order to be able to follow this tutorial in full. The preparations will consist of downloading a dataset and installing a compatible CASA version and instructions on how to do so will be made available on the Science Portal at least a week in advance. Presentation slides will be made available in the Science Portal the day before the session. 

The duration of this training session will be about two hours and will include a live demo and an interactive Q&A. The first hour will be an interactive tutorial and demonstration. The second hour will be devoted to Q&A, advanced techniques and special cases. For questions do not hesitate to contact us at contact@nordic-alma.se.

Note: The tutors' presentation will be recorded and an edited version of the recording will be posted in the Science Portal after the session. The interactive Q&A will not be recorded.