Optimization of interferometric array configurations by “sieving” u – v points
1
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Datun Road 20A, Beijing, 100012, PR China e-mail: suyan@bao.ac.cn; nrd@bao.ac.cn; pb@bao.ac.cn
2
Jodrell Bank Observatory, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, the University of Manchester, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 9DL, UK e-mail: nr@jb.man.ac.uk
3
Center for Astrophysics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China e-mail: zhoujf@tsinghua.edu.cn
Corresponding author: J. F. Zhou, zhoujf@tsinghua.edu.cn
Received:
15
July
2003
Accepted:
10
October
2003
A “sieving” algorithm, which gradually
removes element candidates in a radio array
to fit 
distributions to a predefined shape,
is introduced in this paper. The algorithm is applicable for optimizing
the configuration of an interferometric array either in snapshot
or Earth rotation synthesis observation mode. It has also been
enhanced to do global array optimization when objects at different
declinations are taken into account.
To illustrate its efficiency,
the sieving algorithm is employed to configure an optimum 30-element
array from 2500 candidates within a circular or donut boundary.
A preliminary C++ package implementing the algorithm has been developed
for configuration designs and tests. The
method is well adapted to
general use due to flexibility and rapidity. For example, it has been tentatively
applied to the optimization of
the KARST array, a Chinese concept of the SKA.
Key words: instrumentation: interferometers / method: numerical
© ESO, 2004