Title: GPU-Based High-Performance Imaging for Mingantu Spectral RadioHeliograph,
Abstract: As a dedicated solar radio interferometer, the MingantU SpEctral
RadioHeliograph (MUSER) generates massive observational data in the frequency
range of 400 MHz -- 15 GHz. High-performance imaging forms a significantly
important aspect of MUSER's massive data processing requirements. In this
study, we implement a practical high-performance imaging pipeline for MUSER
data processing. At first, the specifications of the MUSER are introduced and
its imaging requirements are analyzed. Referring to the most commonly used
radio astronomy software such as CASA and MIRIAD, we then implement a
high-performance imaging pipeline based on the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
technology with respect to the current operational status of the MUSER. A
series of critical algorithms and their pseudo codes, i.e., detection of the
solar disk and sky brightness, automatic centering of the solar disk and
estimation of the number of iterations for clean algorithms, are proposed in
detail. The preliminary experimental results indicate that the proposed imaging
approach significantly increases the processing performance of MUSER and
generates images with high-quality, which can meet the requirements of the
MUSER data processing.