[Previous] | [Session 46] | [Next]
J. Rajagopal, T. Boeker, R.J. Allen (STScI)
The Space Interferometry Mission will be a powerful instrument for mapping high-brightness targets by synthesis imaging at optical wavelengths with a resolution equivalent to a 12-meter optical telescope in space. The goal is to map in quantitative detail the surface brightness distribution of complex targets. SIMsim is a software package written in the Interactive Data Language (IDL) environment to simulate the imaging capabilities of SIM, in particular to obtain realistic performance estimates and develop optimal observing strategies. We present here a new version of SIMsim with enhanced capability. These include the ability to simulate visibility coverage on an irregular grid which will be the case in most realistic observing scenarios. SIMsim-II also accepts various models for phase and amplitude errors arising from instrumental effects and calibration and simulates the effects of these on image quality. These new features make the package a better tool with which to explore the exciting prospects offered by SIM for imaging.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: jayadev@stsci.edu