I-LOFAR Observers Guide
Quickstart Guide
Acronyms / Jargon / Etc
Machines LGC - Linux gateway computer, main node used to access the LCU and REALTA LCU - Linux ...
Preparing Observation Schedules
Scheduling Observations Observations are typically scheduled using scripts that execute the quic...
Preparing Observation Schedules With `prepquick.py`
The `prepquick.py` script can be used to generate a number of candidate observation windows, base...
Queuing an Observation Schedule
Working in the scheduling directory is strongly discouraged. It will very likely lead to frustrat...
Interrupting Scheduled Observations
The interruptObs.sh script operates in one of two modes: focused and global. In focused mode, it ...
Processing Pulsar Data
CDMT (Stokes I) Method The GPUs in ucc4 are typically used to reduce the majority of the pulsar ...
Processing Solar Data (Basic)
UPM Method Solar data is typically processed using udpPacketManager, to produce a Stokes IV outp...
Processing Other Data (EMPTY)
UPM Method
Bash Aliases
LGC $ # Access the LCU while in local mode $ lcu $ # Access the Recording node (ucc1) $ uc...
Station Data Products
An overall description of the output products of an international LOFAR station, and pointing out...
Introduction
Most of the information in this chapter can be found within the LOFAR Station Cookbook, though th...
XST Data
Array correlation/crosslet statistics statistics (XSTs) describe the autocorrelation between diff...
BST Data
Beamlet statictics (BSTs) are effectively dyanmic spectra produced by the station at a regular, r...
ACC Data
Array correlation/crosslet statistics statistics (ACCs) describe the autocorrelation between diff...
CEP Packet Stream
The CEP packet stream is the lowest level, constantly produced data product from the station. It ...
TBB Data (Empty)
SST Data (Empty)
Observing with the Station (LCU)
The chapter describe the different observation methods when directly interfacing with the station...
Software Levels
In international mode, the station has 4 software levels, but only 3 of which are used extensivel...
Observing Bit Mode
There are 3 available bit modes available while observing with the station. 4, 8 and 16-bit, each...
Antenna Sets, Subbands and RCU Bands (Modes)
Antenna Sets In international mode, we recommend using either the LBA_OUTER or HBA_JOINED antenn...
Beamforming the Station
Beamforming is the process by which the station electronics collect the antenna signals and delay...
Example Observations (Currently only HBA)
Combining everything found in this chapter, we can provide an example observation. This code bloc...
Checking Antenna Spectra
This is typically performed in either swlevel 2 or swlevel 3, with the methodology differing betw...
Command References
rspctl (Expert mode) -bash-4.2$ rspctl -X rspctl usage: --- RCU control --------------------...
Generating XST Data (Empty)
Mode 357 (Breaking the Station in the Name of Science) (Empty)
Observing with the Station (REALTA)
Station Services
Archived Pages
Old pages that no longer apply to the station setup
(Archived) Handling Combined Solar/KBT/Beamformed Observations
Scheduling Observations Observations are typically scheduled using the quicksched.py script foun...
(Archived) Handling KBT/Solar357 Observations (ScheduleKBT.py Method)
Running The Solar Observations Kaira Background Task (KBT) is the scheduling software used to ob...
(Archived) Executing a Schedule and Processing Data
Running Observations Automatic Configuration on the LGC The observing process has been simplifi...
A Week in the Life of an I-LOFAR Chief Observer
This is a more simplified version of some of the pages David made and is meant to on board new ch...
Scheduling the Sun
As the Sun is regularly observed by I-LOFAR a script was made by Jessica Murphy to indicate the b...