gmosinfospec -- Description of reduction scripts for GMOS
spectroscopic (longslit and MOS) data
gmosinfospec
The GMOS package contains tasks for processing GMOS imaging, long-slit, multi-object and integral field spectroscopy data. The specifics of the individual tasks can be found in their help files. This document describes the common features of the spectroscopic tasks for longslit and MOS data.
The tasks are designed to provide a fairly complete and flexible reduction for the purpose of assessing data quality at the time of observation. Real-time reductions may not be optimal for a particular science application. The GMOS package scripts can be optimized for a particular application using the hidden parameters to achieve the best possible results.
The tasks produce logfiles of the performed processing steps. The name of the logfile may be set in each individual task, or at the package level by setting gmos.logfile.
The tasks add header keywords to the output images. These header keywords contain valuable information about the performed processing steps and the values of the critical parameters that were used.
All GMOS images are written as multi-extension FITS (MEF) files. Raw data can have up to six unnamed extensions. Most of the header information is written to the primary header unit [0] (PHU). After being processed with GPREPARE, GMOS data extensions will be named as described in GMOSINFO.
It is recommended to use imtype="fits". This is set automatically when loading the GEMINI package.
- GSFLAT - Produce a normalized spectral flatfield from raw
GMOS flatfield images (longslit or MOS)
GSFLAT is used to produce a normalized spectral flatfield image starting from raw GMOS images taken with the Gemini calibration unit (GCAL) quartz-halogen lamp. There is an option to keep the co-added flatfield (if starting from more than one flatfield image) prior to normalization. There is also an option (not currently supported) to multiply the output flat field with the slit function information as derived with GSSLITFUNCTION (not yet available). If the input images are raw, GSFLAT calls GPREPARE to update the headers and attach the mask definition file (MDF). GSFLAT also calls GSREDUCE to trim input images, subtract the overscan level (if selected) and subtract the bias image. The input images are then multiplied by the gains. GSFLAT uses GMOSAIC to mosaic together the input science extensions into one spectral flatfield image, which is then normalized. GSFLAT can also produce a double normalized flat to use with Nod-and-shuffle data before shuffled images are shifted and subtracted.
- GSREDUCE - Process GMOS longslit or MOS spectroscopic images
GSREDUCE is used for basic reduction of raw GMOS longslit or MOS spectroscopic images. The possible options include overscan correction and trimming, bias subtraction, dark subtraction, multiplication with the gains, mosaicing the science extensions together, flat fielding, interpolating across the gaps between the detectors, applying a rough wavelength calibration based on the header information, and creating variance and data quality frames. The output images from GSREDUCE used with the default setting of parameters will have count levels in units of electrons. For MOS spectra cutting the spectral image from each slitlet and placing it into a separate science extension. If the input images are raw, GSREDUCE will call GPREPARE to update the headers and attach the mask definition file (MDF) for MOS data. A call to GMOSAIC is necessary in order to flatfield the data and continue to the following steps.
- GNSDARK - Derives average GMOS dark images from raw or gprepared images
GNSDARK is used to calibrate and combine multiple dark images. The possible options include overscan correction and trimming, and bias subtraction. The output dark will be in units of ADU for use as the input dark to gsreduce. Darks are usually only needed for Nod-and-shuffle GMOS data.
- GNSCOMBINE - Nod-and-Shuffle shift, sky-subtract, register, and combine
GNSCOMBINE uses the correct weights to create a more optimal sky subtraction than a simple call to GNSSKYSUB. It first shifts the images, creates a median sky frame, sky subtracts with GNSSKYSUB, adds median sky frame to each sky-subtracted frame, register and combine all frames, subtract median sky from final combined, sky-subtracted file.
- GNSSKYSUB - Nod-and-Shuffle shift and sky-subtraction of GMOS spectra
GNSSKYSUB is used for shifting and subtracting the shuffled images acquired when using GMOS in Nod-and-Shuffle mode.
- GSAPPWAVE - Determines a simple wavelength calibration for GMOS spectra
GSAPPWAVE provides a quick wavelength solution for GMOS spectroscopic images. The wavelength solution is based on the filter, grating and central wavelength information found in the header. The task is for quick reduction purposes and to provide a starting point for the wavelength calibration derived by GSWAVELENGTH.
- GSWAVELENGTH - Establish wavelength calibration for GMOS spectra
GSWAVELENGTH (automatically) determines the wavelength solution for GMOS calibration lamp images starting with the initial value supplied by GSAPPWAVE.
- GSTRANSFORM - Rectify and/or wavelength calibrate GMOS spectra
GSTRANSFORM applies the wavelength solution found by GSWAVELENGTH to GMOS images that have been GSREDUCEd. The images are rectified and interpolated. In a future release GSTRANSFORM will also apply an S-distortion correction found by GSSDIST (not yet available), but this feature is not currently supported.
- GSSKYSUB - Subtract sky from GMOS longslit and MOS spectra
GSSKYSUB performs sky subtraction on GMOS data by fitting and subtracting a function based on the selected sky sample of each column of every science extension. The data are assumed to have been processed through GSREDUCE and wavelength calibrated and rectified with GSTRANSFORM.
- GSEXTRACT - Extract GMOS MOS or longslit spectra to 1D
GSEXTRACT extracts sky-subtracted, wavelength calibrated and rectified GMOS spectral images into one dimensional spectra, with a separate spectrum created for each input science extension. GSEXTRACT can be run either interactively or in batch mode, and it is possible to specify a reference spectrum whose trace is used to define the extraction aperture for faint objects.
- GSSTANDARD - Establish spectrophotometric calibration for GMOS spectra
GSSTANDARD calls the tasks STANDARD and SENSFUNC in NOAO.IMRED.SPECRED to determine the detector sensitivity function based on observations of standard stars. The input spectra are assumed to have been processed with GSREDUCE, rectified using GSTRANSFORM, sky subtracted (optional) using GSSKYSUB and extracted using GSEXTRACT.
- GSCALIBRATE - Apply flux calibration and extinction correction
GSCALIBRATE applies the flux calibration derived with GSSTANDARD, and may also be used to apply a correction for the extinction. GSCALIBRATE can be used on either two dimensional spectral images precessed with GSREDUCE, GSTRANSFORM and (optionally) GSSKYSUB, or one dimensional spectra that have been processed through GSEXTRACT.
- GSCRREJ - Clean spectroscopic data for cosmic ray hits
GSCRREJ cleans spectroscopic data for cosmic ray hits by fitting each line of an image with a high order function. Then residuals (cosmic ray hits) that are narrower than the expected instrumental line width are replaces with the fitted value. The method is useful for removing cosmic ray hits from single exposures. GSCRREJ calls the hidden task GSCRMASK in order to make the mask of the cosmic ray hits.
For typical reductions the user will need appropriate flat fields and arc calibration images, and science images. Observations of spectrophotometric standard stars may also be required.1. Use GPREPARE to update the raw data headers and attach the mask definition file (MDF) as a binary table. The other tasks will call GPREPARE as needed if this step is omitted.
2. Use GBIAS to create a bias image.
3. Use GSFLAT to derive normalized flat fields. The spectral flats taken using GCAL usually have very large variations in the illumination as a function of wavelength.
4. Use GSREDUCE to trim the images, subtract the overscan level (if requested), subtract the bias image, subtract the scaled dark image (if requested), mosaic the data from the separate CCDs together, divide by the flat field, interpolate across the detector gaps in the GMOSAICd image, calculate and apply an approximate wavelength solution, cut and write the data from slitlets into separate science extensions (MOS data), and add the object title to each output extension (MOS data). GIREDUCE will also create and attach data quality and variance planes if requested (fl_vardq=yes). The dark current for GMOS is low enough that subtraction of the dark image is normally not needed and one should use fl_dark=no. GSREDUCE can call GSCRREJ, use fl_crrej=yes. The rejection of cosmic ray hits is done after the bias subtraction, but before the images are mosaiced and flat fielded. Thus, GSCRREJ is run on images that have not been interpolated.
5. Use GSWAVELENGTH to establish an accurate wavelength calibration from calibration arc images.
6. Use GSTRANSFORM to apply the wavelength solution to the science images and rectify the two dimensional images prior to sky subtraction. GSTRANSFORM can also be applied to the calibration arc image to quantify the accuracy of the wavelength solution.
7. Use GSSKYSUB to subtract the sky from the spectral images.
8. Use GSEXTRACT to extract one-dimensional spectra from the two-dimensional spectra.
GSSTANDARD can be used to establish a sensitivity function from GSREDUCEd standard star spectral data. The output from GSSTANDARD can be used by GSCALIBRATE on either the two dimensional or GSEXTRACTed science data.
Example reduction scripts are available, see GMOSEXAMPLES.
The tasks in the GMOS package have been tested with up to three extension MEF files.The tasks in the GMOS package are designed to operate on MEF FITS images only that have been processed using GPREPARE. GPREPARE will not run on data from instruments other than GMOS. The GMOS tasks will not run on simple FITS files.
For more information regarding the GMOS data structure and for generic GMOS package descriptions, see GMOSINFO. For more information about the imaging tasks, see GMOSINFOIMAG. For more information about the IFU tasks, see GMOSINFOIFU.
Input image names should in general not contain directory paths as not all tasks have been tested in this mode.
Improvements to the (previously semi-functional) variance and data quality propagation in the GMOS package have undergone limited testing; the accuracy of the results should still be verified at each step by the scientist, particularly for spectroscopic data reduction tasks.
gmosinfo, gmosinfoimag, gmosinfoifu, gmosexamples, gsflat, gsreduce, gsappwave, gswavelength, gstransform, gsskysub, gsstandard, gscalibrate, gsextract, gprepare, gbias, gmosaic, gnsdark, gnsskysub, gnscombine