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Strategy for mitigation of systematics for EoR experiments with the Murchison Widefield Array

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2024

Chuneeta D. Nunhokee Open the ORCID record for Chuneeta D. Nunhokee [Opens in a new window] ,
Dev Null ,
Cathryn Trott Open the ORCID record for Cathryn Trott [Opens in a new window] ,
Christopher Jordan Open the ORCID record for Christopher Jordan [Opens in a new window] ,
Jack Laurence Bramble Line Open the ORCID record for Jack Laurence Bramble Line [Opens in a new window] ,
Randall Bruce Wayth Open the ORCID record for Randall Bruce Wayth [Opens in a new window]  and
Nichole Barry
Chuneeta D. Nunhokee*
Affiliation:
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), Bentley, Australia Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Perth, WA, Australia
Dev Null
Affiliation:
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Perth, WA, Australia
Cathryn Trott
Affiliation:
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), Bentley, Australia Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Perth, WA, Australia
Christopher Jordan
Affiliation:
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), Bentley, Australia Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Perth, WA, Australia
Jack Laurence Bramble Line
Affiliation:
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), Bentley, Australia Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Perth, WA, Australia
Randall Bruce Wayth
Affiliation:
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), Bentley, Australia Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Perth, WA, Australia
Nichole Barry
Affiliation:
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), Bentley, Australia Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Perth, WA, Australia
*
Corresponding author: Chuneeta D. Nunhokee, Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Observations of the 21 cm signal face significant challenges due to bright astrophysical foregrounds that are several orders of magnitude higher than the brightness of the hydrogen line, along with various systematics. Successful 21 cm experiments require accurate calibration and foreground mitigation. Errors introduced during the calibration process such as systematics can disrupt the intrinsic frequency smoothness of the foregrounds, leading to power leakage into the Epoch of Reionisation window. Therefore, it is essential to develop strategies to effectively address these challenges. In this work, we adopt a stringent approach to identify and address suspected systematics, including malfunctioning antennas, frequency channels corrupted by radio frequency interference, and other dominant effects. We implement a statistical framework that utilises various data products from the data processing pipeline to derive specific criteria and filters. These criteria and filters are applied at intermediate stages to mitigate systematic propagation from the early stages of data processing. Our analysis focuses on observations from the Murchison Widefield Array Phase I configuration. Out of the observations processed by the pipeline, our approach selects 18%, totalling 58 h, that exhibit fewer systematic effects. The successful selection of observations with reduced systematic dominance enhances our confidence in achieving 21 cm measurements.

Keywords

Reionisation21 cm hydrogen linesystematic mitigationpower spectrum analysis
Type
Research Article
Information
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia , Volume 41 , 2024 , e095
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Astronomical Society of Australia

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