An Image Processing System For the Analysis of Radio, Optical, and IR Data at Northwestern

西北大学的天文学家利用VLA甚大阵列获得了对星系中心区和突出的星系HII区的射电观测，这些区域构成了射电天文学中一些最大的连续谱和谱线数据库。在应用高信噪比技术研究星际和类星体(QSO)吸收线的过程中，也获得了大量的光谱数据。对这些庞大的数据集进行最佳简化和分析所需的图像处理任务，使得大量计算机功能的现成可用性变得至关重要。该合同将为购置一台微型超级计算机(IBM RS/6000 POWERSERVER 540)及其外围设备提供支持，以便能够对银河系一些最复杂的区域进行MOSIAC成像，并为私人投资机构目前正在开展的许多其他研究项目提供便利。西北大学已捐赠超过13万美元为私人投资促进机构购买计算机设备，并将再捐赠4.7万美元用于这一设施。

Using the (VLA) Very Large Array, the astronomers at Northwestern University have obtained radio observations of the galactic center region and prominent galactic HII regions that constitute some of the largest continuum and spectral line data bases in radio astronomy. A large amount of optical spectroscopic data has also been acquired in the application of high signal-to-noise techniques for the study of interstellar and Quasi-Stellar Object (QSO) absorption lines. The image processing tasks required for the optimum reduction and analysis of these enormous data sets make the ready availability of substantial computer capabilities essential. This award will provide support for the acquisition of a mini- supercomputer (IBM RS/6000 powerserver 540) and its peripherals so that mosiac images of some of the most complex regions of the galaxy can be made and numerous other research projects currently being carried out by the PIs be facilitated. Northwestern University has already contributed over $130,000 in purchasing computer equipment for the PIs and will contribute another $47,000 to this facility.