def set_meta(self, meta_data):
        '''
        node.set_meta(meta) yields a calculation node identical to the given node except that its
        meta_data attribute has been set to the given dictionary meta. If meta is not persistent,
        it is cast to a persistent dictionary first.
        '''
        if not (isinstance(meta_data, ps.PMap) or isinstance(meta_data, IMap)):
            meta_data = ps.pmap(meta_data)
        new_cnode = copy.copy(self)
        object.__setattr__(new_cnode, 'meta_data', meta_data)
        return new_cnode