On the Calibration of Full-polarization 86GHz Global VLBI Observations

• Main Authors: Marti-Vidal, I, Krichbaum, T. P, Marscher, A, Alef, W, Bertarini, A, Bach, U, Schinzel, F. K, Rottmann, H, Anderson, J. M, Zensus, J. A, Bremer, M, Sanchez, S, Lindqvist, M, Mujunen, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 07-03-2012
• Subjects: Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena; Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1203.1424

We report the development of a semi-automatic pipeline for the calibration of
86 GHz full-polarization observations performed with the Global Millimeter-VLBI
array (GMVA) and describe the calibration strategy followed in the data
reduction. Our calibration pipeline involves non-standard procedures, since
VLBI polarimetry at frequencies above 43 GHz is not yet well established. We
also present, for the first time, a full-polarization global-VLBI image at 86
GHz (source 3C 345), as an example of the final product of our calibration
pipeline, and discuss the effect of instrumental limitations on the fidelity of
the polarization images. Our calibration strategy is not exclusive for the
GMVA, and could be applied on other VLBI arrays at millimeter wavelengths. The
use of this pipeline will allow GMVA observers to get fully-calibrated datasets
shortly after the data correlation.