Current uses

The primary goal of CASA is to meet the needs for ALMA and EVLA data reduction but it is suitable for a wide range of radio data and could also be used to compare any suitable processed data e.g. calibrated optical images.  CASA handles data internally as Measurement Sets but it can import and export FITS, as well as injesting the ALMA SDM format.  Current CASA uses (and in some cases example scripts) include:

• Full processing of VLA spectral line and continuum data, from injesting archive format to image analysis;
• Processing BIMA mm-wave spectral line data (after initial instrument-specific pre-calibration in MIRIAD) including mosaicing;
• Imaging MERLIN and VLBI data;
• Processing single dish data.

The best way to ensure that CASA is ready, and user-friendly, for ALMA, is to promote its early use by astronomers.  This means that we will provide support for the use of CASA to solve suitable problems in current interferometer data.  The Python interface means that, for example, if classic AIPS was required for the early stages of data reduction, you could use the Parseltongue AIPS wrapper initially and then transfer data to CASA for mosaicing images. Moreover, Python is very convenient for performing mathematical operations or running your own programs (such as plotting routines) outside CASA but integrated into a workflow.

We welcome interest from astronomers new to the radio/sub-mm regime who want to gain experience with CASA, whether by learning from tutorials using standard data sets, or whether you want to investigate importing your data into CASA to assess the possibility of future comparisons with ALMA data. Future developments will include supporting the use of CASA for ALMA simulations.