VIMOS science data can be reduced using the ESO VIMOS pipeline. On Paranal, the quick-look pipeline makes an attempt to automatically reduce all science data. The reduction is performed using standard calibration solutions from a local calibration database which is refreshed every few months. Generally, any pipeline processing on the site is done on a best-effort basis. Its purpose is to offer a quick look to assess data quality etc.

At QC Garching, SCIENCE data are pipeline-reduced using the best available calibration solutions (quality-checked and closest in time, following the calibration cascade). All offered settings are pipeline supported with the exception of combining an MR grism with an OS-blue order-sorting filter. The reduction of MOS masks having Bezier slits (i.e. non-horizontal slits) is not pipeline-supported.

The products of science reduction are also quality-checked. If any irregularity in the reduced data is found, an attempt is made to improve on this. If not possible, information about the problem is made available in the data package. The policy is to never suppress data.

The following types of raw science data exist for VIMOS:

MODE DPR CATG DPR TYPE DPR TECH template description fits header IMAGING SCIENCE OBJECT IMAGE VIMOS_img_obs_Offset stare and jitter observations example header IMAGING SCIENCE OBJECT IMAGE,PRE VIMOS_img_obs_Offset pre-imaging for MOS   MOS ACQUISITION SLIT,OBJECT IMAGE VIMOS_mos_acq_Mask acquisition frame for MOS   MOS SCIENCE OBJECT MOS VIMOS_mos_obs_Offset stare and jitter observations example header IFU SCIENCE OBJECT IFU VIMOS_ifu_obs_Offset stare and jitter observations example header

SCIENCE PRODUCTS

MODE   pipeline recipe description IMAGING vmimobsstare, vmimobsjitter reduce single images or jittered stacks MOS vmmosscience (used since August 2010) vmmosobsstare, vmmosobsjitter (used until May 2010) reduce single or jittered MOS observations IFU vmifuscience reduce single IFU observation

All product file names follow a dedicated naming scheme.

VIMOS pipeline problems are documented under on the data package page.