Title: A new approach for short-spacing correction of radio interferometric data sets,
Abstract: The short-spacing problem describes the inherent inability of
radio-interferometric arrays to measure the integrated flux and structure of
diffuse emission associated with extended sources. New interferometric arrays,
such as SKA, require solutions to efficiently combine interferometer and
single-dish data.
We present a new and open source approach for merging single-dish and cleaned
interferometric data sets requiring a minimum of data manipulation while
offering a rigid flux determination and full high angular resolution. Our
approach combines single-dish and cleaned interferometric data in the image
domain. This approach is tested for both Galactic and extragalactic HI data
sets. Furthermore, a quantitative comparison of our results to commonly used
methods is provided. Additionally, for the interferometric data sets of NGC4214
and NGC5055, we study the impact of different imaging parameters as well as
their influence on the combination for NGC4214.
The approach does not require the raw data (visibilities) or any additional
special information such as antenna patterns. This is advantageous especially
in the light of upcoming radio surveys with heterogeneous antenna designs.