More Information
The Spectral Correlation Function (SCF) is a data analysis algorithm
for analyzing position-position-velocity maps of the Interstellar Medium
(ISM) (see below). The SCF compares two nearby spectra in these maps and
measures the similarity between them. The similarity is expressed as a number
from 0 (completely different spectra) to 1 (identical spectra).
After converting the similarities of nearby spectra into numbers, these
numbers can hopefully be used in the following ways:
- To determine how similar the spectra are to each other throughout the
map.
- To compare the objects in the map to other objects based on how correlated
the spectra are.
- To compare physical objects in the ISM to simulations of the same.
- To evaluate how well simulations of the ISM emulate the observed ISM.
- To locate areas of high correlation and identify them with specific
features in the ISM.
- To process large data cubes with the computer and use the results to
identify regions of interest.
- To provide another way to reduce the large volume of data from radio
astronomy which specifically preserves the spatial nature of the information
in the data cube.
Click here for Erik Rosolowsky's thesis which gives a thorough description of the development of SCF v1.0.
BACK to the SCF homepage.