Ultra Fast Image Generator (UFig)

Simulate realistic astronomical images with high-speed and modular adjustable image properties according to the user.

For original paper describing this project, see: http://arxiv.org/abs/1209.1200.

Features

• Ultra fast speed
• Modular structure that can be easily integrated and expanded
• User interact with the program through python scripts
• Structued unit tests for continuous robust development

Introduction

The Ultra Fast Image Generator (UFig) is an image simulation tool that generates simulated astronomical images for scientific usage.

The code is implemented in pure Python and highly optimized in terms of speed. To achieve further acceleration the code is translated on the fly into C code and compiled just in time (JIT compilation) through the Highly Optimized Python Enhancer (HOPE) package.

The output images are useful for developing analysis algorithms and data processing pipelines in the field of astronomy/cosmology.

Conceptually, a typical UFig program involves two things:

1. config file : sets up the workflow by calling a series of plugin’s

   The content in each config file includes importing or setting the relevant input parameters and arranging the list of plugin’s that is being called. The main set of common parameters are listed in the “common” module. For the full list of config files, see below under Contents: ufig Package --> Subpackages --> config Package.

2. plugin : implement specific jobs

   The nature of the plugin’s range from mundane data handling (eg. i/o of data files) to various aspects of physical modelling (eg. generating the profile of a galaxy). Also, it is possible that the plugin’s can depend on or call other plugin’s. There are two large classes of plugin’s: galaxyplugin and plugin. The first class of plugin’s do X and the second set does Y. An example here shows how one would construct a new module for UFig. For the full list of plugin’s, see below under Contents: ufig Package --> Subpackages --> galaxyplugin/plugin Package.

Contents:

• Installation
• Usage
• ufig Package
  • ufig Package
  • io_util Module
  • Subpackages
• Contributing
  • Types of Contributions
  • Pull Request Guidelines
  • Tips
• Credits
  • Development Lead
  • Contributors
• History
  • 0.2.1 (2016-06-16)
  • 0.2.0 (2016-05-31)
  • 0.1.1 (2014-07-16)
  • 0.1.0 (2014-02-13)
• TODO

Feedback

If you have any suggestions or questions about Ultra fast image generator feel free to email me at gamperl@gmail.com.

If you encounter any errors or problems with Ultra fast image generator, please let me know!