analytic beams

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,18 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic
 Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## Unreleased
+
+### Added
+- Support for the "mwa_pb" and "RTS" analytic beams.
+
+### Changed
+- The beam subcommand now takes a beam type with the -b or --beam-type flag.
+
+### Fixed
+- Using the beam subcommand would fail to set up an FEE beam if MWA_BEAM_FILE
+  was not set.
+
 ## [0.7.0] - 2026-02-09
 
 ### Fixed

examples/plot_beam_responses.py

@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
+import sys
+
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-data = np.genfromtxt(fname="beam_responses.tsv", delimiter="\t", skip_header=0)
+if len(sys.argv) == 1:
+    file = "beam_responses.tsv"
+else:
+    file = sys.argv[1]
+data = np.genfromtxt(fname=file, delimiter="\t", skip_header=0)
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots(1, 2, subplot_kw=dict(projection="polar"))
 p = ax[0].scatter(data[:, 0], data[:, 1], c=data[:, 2])

mdbook/src/defs/beam.md

@@ -15,11 +15,18 @@ In addition, the FEE beam code needs an HDF5 file to function. See the
 [post-installation instructions](../installation/post.md) for information on
 getting that set up.
 
+It is possible to use the "analytic" MWA beam, and this does not require an
+additional file (but the FEE beam is the default selection). There are two
+"flavours": `mwa_pb` and `RTS`, and these can be used by specifying `--beam-type
+analytic-mwa_pb` and `--beam-type analytic-rts`, respectively. The differences
+between the flavours is not huge, but I (CHJ) suggest the `RTS` flavour if in
+doubt, as it seems to look a little better.
+
 ## Errors
 
 Beam code usually does not error, but if it does it's likely because:
 
 1. There aren't exactly 16 dipole delays;
 2. There aren't exactly 16 or 32 dipole gains per tile; or
 3. There's something wrong with the FEE HDF5 file. The official file is well
-   tested.
+   tested.

mdbook/src/installation/post.md

@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ Move the `h5` file anywhere you like, and put the file path in the
 export MWA_BEAM_FILE=/path/to/mwa_full_embedded_element_pattern.h5
 ```
 
+It is possible to use the analytic beam instead of the FEE beam, meaning you
+don't need the HDF5 file, but the FEE beam is probably better.
+
 See the README for [`hyperbeam`](https://github.com/MWATelescope/mwa_hyperbeam)
 for more info.
 ~~~