An iterative algorithm which deconvolves Eric Weisstein's World of Math a sampling function (the "dirty beam") from an observed brightness ("dirty map") of a radio source. This algorithm is of fundamental importance in radio astronomy, where it is used to create images of astronomical sources which are observed using arrays of radio telescopes ("synthesis imaging"). Application of the CLEAN algorithm to a synthesis imaging observation is sometimes described as "CLEANING the image."
CLEAN Beam, CLEAN Map, Dirty Beam, Dirty Map
References
Christiansen, W. N. and Högbom, J. A. Radiotelescopes, 2nd ed. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, pp. 214-216, 1985.
Clark, B. G. "An Efficient Implementation of the Algorithm 'CLEAN'." Astron. Astrophys. 89, 377-378, 1980.
Cornwell, T. J. "Can CLEAN Be Improved?" VLA Scientific Memorandum No. 141, 1982.
Cornwell, T. J. "Image Restoration (and the CLEAN Technique)." Lecture 9. NRAO VLA Workshop on Synthesis Mapping, p. 113, 1982.
Cornwell, T. J. "A Method of Stabilizing the CLEAN Algorithm." Astron. Astrophys. 121, 281-285, 1983.
Cornwell, T. and Braun, R. "Deconvolution." Ch. 8 in Synthesis Imaging in Radio Astronomy: Third NRAO Summer School, 1988 (Ed. R. A. Perley, F. R. Schwab, and A. H. Bridle). San Francisco, CA: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, pp. 178-179, 1989.
Högbom, J. A. "Aperture Synthesis with a Non-Regular Distribution of Interferometric Baselines." Astron. Astrophys. Supp. 15, 417-426, 1974.
National Radio Astronomical Observatory. Astronomical Image Processing Software (AIPS) software package. APCLN, MX, and UVMAP tasks.
Pearson, T. J. and Readhead, A. C. S. "Image Formation by Self-Calibration in Radio Astronomy." Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 22, 97-130, 1984.
Schwarz, U. J. "Mathematical-Statistical Description of the Iterative Beam Removing Technique (Method CLEAN)." Astron. Astrophys. 65, 345-356, 1978.
Tan, S. M. "An Analysis of the Properties of CLEAN and Smoothness Stabilized CLEAN--Some Warnings." Mon. Not. Royal Astron. Soc. 220, 971-1001, 1986.
Thompson, A. R.; Moran, J. M.; and Swenson, G. W. Jr. Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy. New York: Wiley, pp. 347-348, 1986.
