SOLSTAR : SOLar Simulation of Thermal and Active Radio emissions

SOLSTAR (SOLar Simulation of Thermal and Active Radio emissions) is a simulation tool for simulating solar radio emissions at GHz frequencies. It is designed to simulate spectral image cube at user given frequency range and frequency resolution at any observation date based on extreme ultraviolet observations of the Sun. It is also capable of simulate visibilities for a given radio interferometric array configuration.

🌟 Features

• GHz Frequency Simulation: Simulate solar radio emissions in the GHz range.
• Visibility simulation: Simulate visibility of a given radio interferometric array (Not ready yet).
• Customizable Parameters: Configure frequency ranges, frequency and temporal resolutions, and spatial resolution.
• Data Export: Export simulation images in FITS and visibilities in CASA measurement format.
• Modular Architecture: Integrates seamlessly with other solar physics tools and workflows.

🚀 Installation

To install and set up SOLSTAR, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10 or higher
• Git
• Required Python libraries (listed in requirements.txt)

Steps to install from PyPI

pip install solstar

Steps to install from repository

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/devojyoti96/solstar.git
   cd solstar
   

2. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   

🛠️ Usage

Making Spectral Image Cube

1. To launch the application:

run_solstar 

2. Preview parameters of the application:

   run_solstar -h
   

3. It will display the parameters:

--obs_date=String Observation date (yyyy-mm-dd)
--obs_time=String Observation time (hh:mm:ss)
--workdir=String Working directory path
--start_freq=Float Start frequency in MHz
--end_freq=Float End frequency in MHz
--freqres=Float Frequency resolution in MHz
--spatial_res=Float Spatial resolution in arcseconds
--observatory=String Observatory name (MeerKAT, uGMRT, eOVSA, ASKAP, FASR, SKAO-MID)
--obs_lat=Float Observatory latitude in degree
--obs_lon=Float Observatory longitude in degree
--obs_alt=Float Observatory altitude in meter
--output_product=String Output product, TB: for brightness temperature map, flux: for flux density map
--make_cube=Boolean Make spectral cube or keep spectral slices seperate

4. Run the simulation for a specific observatory (MeerKAT) for producing brightness temperature spectral cube at 0.6 arcsecond resolution:

   run_solstar --obs_date 2023-12-04 --obs_time 06:30:00 --workdir $HOME/simulation_try --start_freq 850 --end_freq 1700 --freqres 10.0 --spatial_res 0.6 --observatory MeerKAT --output_product TB --make_cube True
   

5. Access the results in the $HOME/simulation_try folder.

Other examples

1. Run the simulation for a geodetic location (latitude = 30deg, longitude = 20deg, altitude = 100 meter) for producing brightness temperature spectral slices at 5.0 arcsecond resolution:

   run_solstar --obs_date 2023-12-04 --obs_time 06:30:00 --workdir $HOME/simulation_try --start_freq 850 --end_freq 1700 --freqres 10.0 --obs_lat 30.0  --obs_lon 20.0 --obs_alt 100.0 output_product TB --make_cube False
   

2. Run the simulation for a specific observatory (MeerKAT) for producing flux density spectral cube at 4.0 arcsecond spatial resolution:

   run_solstar --obs_date 2023-12-04 --obs_time 06:30:00 --workdir $HOME/simulation_try --start_freq 850 --end_freq 1700 --freqres 10.0 --spatial_res 4.0 --observatory MeerKAT --output_product flux --make_cube True
   

3. Run the simulation for a specific observatory (uGMRT) for producing flux density spectral slices at 5.0 arcsecond spatial resolution:

   run_solstar --obs_date 2023-12-04 --obs_time 06:30:00 --workdir $HOME/simulation_try --start_freq 850 --end_freq 1700 --freqres 10.0 --observatory uGMRT --output_product flux --make_cube False
   

Current ongoing and future developments

1. Simulation of visibilties for different array configurations

2. Inclusion of magnetic field model for gyroresonance simulation

3. Simulation of flare times including gyrosynchrotron simulation

📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

🙌 Acknowledgments

• Developed by the Devojyoti Kansabanik and Surajit Mondal.
• Inspired by cutting-edge advancements in GHz solar radio spectroscopic imaging and analysis.

📬 Contact

For questions, feature requests, or support:

• Email: dkansabanik@ucar.edu
• GitHub Issues: https://github.com/devojyoti96/solstar/issues

SOLSTAR is your gateway to understanding solar radio emissions at GHz frequencies. Start exploring today! 🌞