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Other RHESSI |
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HESSI-UNIQUE SOFTWARE ISSUES
 | Indirect imaging |
| Many users unfamiliar with imaging and spectroscopic techniques |
è Importance of documentation and user comfort
| User tradeoffs among time-, energy-resolution, image quality, etc |
è Level-0 database as starting point.
| Importance of ancillary data |
HESSI SOFTWARE – IMPLEMENTATION BASICS
| IDL 5.3 |
| Object-oriented code |
+ simplifies maintenance and upgrading
+ saves time in some analysis scenarios
| Multiplatform support – Unix (Solaris, Linux), Windows 95,98,NT |
| Solar SoftWare Tree |
+ convenient updating
- dynamic software environmentè can use either latest release OR development version
| User interface options |
- Object-oriented commands- Conventional IDL command line
- Graphical User Interface
UNDEVELOPED HESSI SOFTWARE
| Level-3 software (e.g. conversion of photon spectra to electron spectra) |
| Study-specific software |
| Support for non-solar observations |
| Support for Crab roll calibration ?? |
| X-ray polarimetry |
| White-light imaging with SAS |
| Helioseismology with SAS limb data |
| Modifications to support full-sun imaging |
OTHER HESSI-RELATED SOFTWARE
| ETH – enhanced database access, including web interface |
| GSFC (Holman et al) – x-ray, microwave modeling |
| GSFC (Ramaty, Murphy et al) – nuclear modeling package |
| UNH – polarimetry |
OVERVIEW OF SOFTWARE STATUS
| Much, but not all, of the basic analysis software is in place. |
| Many important features remain to be implemented (by February). |
| Documentation is being developed in parallel with software. |
| Testing to date has been mainly functional and performance-oriented. |
| Quantitative and comparative testing is required. |
ELEMENTS OF SOFTWARE FROM USER PERSPECTIVE
| Loading and updating software package |
| Access to level-0 database |
| Graphical user interface |
| Light curves |
| Spectroscopy |
| Imaging |
| Imaging spectroscopy |
| Ancillary data |
| Documentation |
LOADING / UPDATING SOFTWARE
GOAL:
Users to be able to load and update software on their machines without individual support.
CURRENT STATUS:
Basic documented procedures and scripts are in place for loading and updating.
Some successes, some failures to date.
NEED:
Documentation refinement to strike balance between cookbook and explanatory.
Also to document release vs. developmental options.
EXPECTED: December (Berg, Dennis, Bentley)
ACCESS TO LEVEL 0 DATABASE
GOAL:
On-line access to level-0 database, including catalog data.
CURRENT STATUS:
Basic software to generate database is in place and working.
There are some missing capabilities.
Has been used successfully in end-to-end tests
NEED:
Additional capabilities required
- some data header info to be added to catalog
- quicklook spectra- save capability for quicklook images
- incorporation of time corrections
EXPECTED:
February (McTiernan)
LIGHT CURVE GENERATION AND DISPLAY
GOAL:
Flexible tool for generation and display of light curves
CURRENT STATUS:
Basic capability for uncalibrated light curves is in place.
Lacks many important features.
NEED:
Calibrated light curves *
Fast rate handling **
Dead time corrections. ++
Demodulated light curves***
Options for non-event parameters **
EXPECTED:
* December (Tolbert, Csillaghy)
** February (Tolbert, Csillaghy)
++ February (Schwartz, Smith)
*** February (Hurford)
SPECTROSCOPY
GOAL:
A flexible tool to support 3 kinds of spectroscopy:
Count rates
‘Semi-calibrated’ (Diagonal elements only)
Fully calibrated, including coincidences.
CURRENT STATUS:
Much of required software infrastructure is in place.
NEED:
EXPECTED:
* December (Csillaghy, Smith, Schwartz)
** February (Schwartz)
+++ February (Schwartz, Csillaghy, Smith)
*** February (Csillaghy)
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
GOAL:
Intuitive graphical user interface to support common user functions and parameters
(quicklook, light curves, spectroscopy, imaging)
CURRENT STATUS:
Basic capability is in place and has been well-received.
\
NEED:
Continuing development to add features.
EXPECTED:
Additional features in Dec, Feb and in response to post-launch experience (Tolbert)
IMAGING GOAL: A suite of algorithms for flexible generation and display of images CURRENT STATUS: 6 algorithms are in place Back projection CLEAN MEM-Sato Polar MEM Pixons Forward Fitting (pixelized) Basic aspect software implemented, but not integrated NEED:
EXPECTED:
December, February.
IMAGING SPECTROSCOPY
GOAL:
Semi-automated ability to do feature-based spectroscopy
STATUS:
Not yet in place.
Prerequisites:
Provision for multiple energy bins in imaging software
Demonstration of photometric self-consistency among photon spectra and images
EXPECTED:
December: Manual capability
February: Semi-automated capability
March: Convenient user interface for imaging spectroscopy
Long-term: Integrated spatial/spectral MEM and Forward Fitting
ANCILLARY DATA
GOAL:
Convenient access to, manipulation, display and comparison of external data sets with HESSI
STATUS:
Strong capability is in place and has been used extensively.
NEED:
Inclusion of additional observatories (ongoing)
Overlay capability (expected by December) (Zarro)
DOCUMENTATION
GOAL:
Complete on-line user and reference manuals
STATUS:
Good start by Johns-Krull, Csillaghy, Bentley, Dennis.
GUI also has HELP function.
Time lag between implementation and documentation is a potential concern.
Need papers describing concepts, algorithms, and as-built hardware
IMPLICATIONS FOR EARLY SCIENCE GOALS
| Users should plan on doing the easier science first. |
 | We will all be on a steep learning curve ! |
| There may be unanticipated issues that require software adaptations. |
| Spectroscopy, photometry and image dynamic range will improve as detector |
| Software will improve as additional minor corrections are implemented. |
| Convenience features will be added in response to early experience. |
| Calibration of attenuators and roll sensors will not be possible at first. |
