meqsilhouette: a mm-VLBI observation and signal corruption simulator
meqsilhouette: a mm-VLBI observation and signal corruption simulator
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DOI：
10.1093/mnras/stw2311
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发表时间：
2016-08
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Tariq Blecher;R. Deane;G. Bernardi;O. Smirnov
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Tariq Blecher;R. Deane;G. Bernardi;O. Smirnov
事件视界望远镜（EHT）旨在从空间上分辨银河系中心（Sgr A $^\star$）和M87的超大质量黑洞的轮廓（或阴影）。主要的科学目标是在强场范围内测试广义相对论，并在事件视界尺度上探测吸积和喷射发射物理。这是通过（亚）毫米波长的甚长基线干涉测量（VLBI）技术实现的，该技术可以实现$\sim10~\mu$ -弧秒级的角分辨率。然而，这种方法面临着独特的观测挑战，包括对流层和星际介质中的散射；极化和总强度的快速时变源结构；以及不可忽略的天线指向误差。在本系列的第一篇论文中，我们介绍了MeqSilhouette软件包，该软件包专门用于精确模拟EHT观测。它包括对一些可能限制关键科学参数测量能力的信号破坏的现实描述。这可用于量化校准要求，测试参数估计和成像策略，并调查可能存在的系统不确定性。通过这样做，可以在观测能力和理论预测之间建立更强的联系，目标是从即将到来的EHT灵敏度的数量级增加中最大化科学产出。
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) aims to spatially resolve the silhouette (or shadow) of the supermassive black holes in the Galactic Centre (Sgr A$^\star$) and M87. The primary scientific objectives are to test general relativity in the strong-field regime and to probe accretion and jet-launch physics at event-horizon scales. This is made possible by the technique of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at (sub)millimetre wavelengths, which can achieve angular resolutions of order $\sim10~\mu$-arcsec. However, this approach suffers from unique observational challenges, including scattering in the troposphere and interstellar medium; rapidly time-variable source structure in both polarized and total intensity; as well as non-negligible antenna pointing errors. In this, the first paper in a series, we present the MeqSilhouette software package which is specifically designed to accurately simulate EHT observations. It includes realistic descriptions of a number of signal corruptions that can limit the ability to measure the key science parameters. This can be used to quantify calibration requirements, test parameter estimation and imaging strategies, and investigate systematic uncertainties that may be present. In doing so, a stronger link can be made between observational capabilities and theoretical predictions, with the goal of maximising scientific output from the upcoming order of magnitude increase in EHT sensitivity.