The KastRedux Page


Brought to you by Jason X. Prochaska and Gabe Prochter (UCO/Lick Observatory)

Kast

Quick Links


XIDL Code


Quick Reduction


Kast cookbook (v0.1)


Kast Install (v0.4)




I. Overview of the Code

The KastRedux code was built with the IDL software pacakge, originally to reduce the data from our ongoing survey of z~2.5 LLS. Keep this in mind. While the code was designed for single object, point-source observations, it can be used for extended and/or multiple objects within the slit. The code can work with users that have little IDL experience, but you will struggle at first. I highly recommend you read the Intro to IDL book or some other resource before diving in.
The general approach of the code is as follows:
  • Construct a normalized flat image
  • Identify the science (and other) objects within the slit.
  • Sky subtract and extract (boxcar or optimal).
  • Create a wavelength solution.
  • Combine, flux and coadd into 1D spectra

II. Installing the Software

The code relies on several IDL packages in addition to the routines that were designed specifically for Kast. These include:
  • The SDSS pipeline (both IDLUTILS and idlspec2d),
  • The XIDL pacakge built and maintained by me.

More detailed notes for obtaining and installing these packages can be found here: install notes. I wish to emphasize that the code expects the most up-to-date versions of the Goddard, Sloan, and Coyote codes. Users with old versions of any of these packages beware!

III. Using the Code

There is a quick reduction version of the code. Moderately detailed descriptions of running the code are given in this reduction cookbook. We include a lot of detail here, but it is still insufficient. Savvy IDL users should be able to dig into my codes and follow along.
Hopefully, I will include an example session of running the code in this space before long.

III. Developing the Code + Bug Fixing

I do encourage all users to consier ways to improve the code and to suggest them to me. Of course, I'd also like to hear about bugs. Please do make an effort to verify it is a bug in the code as opposed to 'user error'. Along those lines, if you are a novice to IDL, I suspect you will have many more 'user errors' than bugs to find.
e-mail: xavier@ucolick.org
last modified 03/18/04