The LARI Method for ISO-CAM/PHOT Data Reduction and Analysis

Lari, Carlo; Vaccari, Mattia; Rodighiero, Guilia; Fadda, Dario; Gruppioni, Carlotta; Pozzi, Francesca; Franceschini, Alberto; Zamorani, Gianni
Bibliographical reference

Exploiting the ISO Data Archive. Infrared Astronomy in the Internet Age, held in Siguenza, Spain 24-27 June, 2002. Edited by C. Gry, S. Peschke, J. Matagne, P. Garcia-Lario, R. Lorente, & A. Salama. Published as ESA Publications Series, ESA SP-511. European Space Agency, 2003, p. 349.

Advertised on:
2
2003
Number of authors
8
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
2
Refereed citations
2
Description
The techniques and software tools developed for the reduction and analysis of ISO-CAM/PHOT data with the LARI method are presented. The method, designed for the detection of faint sources in ISO raster observations, is based on the assumption of the existence of two different time scales in the detectors' transient behaviour, accounting either for fast or slow detectors' response. The specifically developed IDL software includes: a reduction pipeline performing basic operations such as deglitching and background determination; the fitting procedures proper, modelling the time history of individual pixels and detecting any flux excess with respect to the local background ascribable to potential sources; mapping, source extraction and flux estimation procedures; simulation procedures allowing one to estimate the errors arising from different instrumental and reduction effects. Moreover, an easy-to-use graphical user interface allows one to quickly browse the data and carry out the substantial amount of interactive analysis required when the automatic fit fails and to check the reliability of detected sources. This method provides source lists of great reliability and completeness and an outstanding photometric accuracy, particularly at low redundancy levels, where the reliability of ISO-CAM/PHOT source lists, even at moderately bright flux levels, has been a long-standing issue. In this work a description of the techniques and software tools that have been developed is given, alongside with some highlights from the results obtained thanks to their application to different fields.