SMA Data Processing with MIR, MIRIAD, or AIPS

The data in the SMA data directories, i.e., written by the correlator, are in MIR format, but can be converted to MIRIAD or FITS (for AIPS) formats, if desired.

• Processing with MIR
• Pros: No format translation necessary, well tested.
• Cons: Loading of large data sets slow.
Details of data processing using MIR can be found in The MIR Cookbook.
Note: By typing "idl", you will access 32-bit idl on 32-bit machines and 64-bit idl on 64-bit machines.
• Processing with MIRIAD
• Pros: Fast.
• Cons: Format translation necessary, less well tested.
Details of data processing using MIRIAD can be found in the MIRIAD Users' Manual.
• Processing with AIPS
• Pros: Exceedingly well tested (it's been around since the late 70's).
• Cons: Translation and preliminary processing necessary.
Details of data processing using AIPS can be found in The AIPS Cookbook.
To do preliminary processing and convert data to FITS format, consult The MIR Cookbook, above.