Sample interview questions: Can you explain any experience you have with radio astronomy interferometric imaging techniques, such as CLEAN or MEM?
Sample answer:
CLEAN and MEM Interferometric Imaging Techniques
I possess extensive experience with radio astronomy interferometric imaging techniques, particularly CLEAN (CLEANest Image from Least Squares) and MEM (Maximum Entropy Method).
CLEAN Algorithm
CLEAN is an iterative algorithm that removes artifacts from interferometric images. It operates by subtracting point sources from the image until the residuals are below a specified threshold. The point sources are identified by finding peaks in the residual image, and their fluxes and positions are estimated using least squares fitting.
During my work with the Very Large Array (VLA), I applied CLEAN to high-resolution images of star-forming regions, galaxies, and active galactic nuclei. This technique allowed me to extract faint structures from the noisy data and produce scientifically valuable images.
MEM Algorithm
MEM is a regularization method that generates i… Read full answer