Janssen, M.M.JanssenGoddi, C.C.Goddivan Bemmel, I. M.I. M.van BemmelKettenis, M.M.KettenisSmall, D.D.SmallLIUZZO, Elisabetta TeodorinaElisabetta TeodorinaLIUZZORYGL, Kazi Lucie JessicaKazi Lucie JessicaRYGLMartí-Vidal, I.I.Martí-VidalBlackburn, L.L.BlackburnWielgus, M.M.WielgusFalcke, H.H.Falcke2020-12-302020-12-3020190004-6361http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12386/29352Context. The Common Astronomy Software Application (CASA) software suite, which is a state-of-the-art package for radio astronomy, can now reduce very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) data with the recent addition of a fringe fitter. <BR /> Aims: Here, we present the Radboud PIpeline for the Calibration of high Angular Resolution Data (rPICARD), which is an open-source VLBI calibration and imaging pipeline built on top of the CASA framework. The pipeline is capable of reducing data from different VLBI arrays. It can be run non-interactively after only a few non-default input parameters are set and delivers high-quality calibrated data. CPU scalability based on a message-passing interface (MPI) implementation ensures that large bandwidth data from future arrays can be processed within reasonable computing times. <BR /> Methods: Phase calibration is done with a Schwab-Cotton fringe fit algorithm. For the calibration of residual atmospheric effects, optimal solution intervals are determined based on the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the data for each scan. Different solution intervals can be set for different antennas in the same scan to increase the number of detections in the low S/N regime. These novel techniques allow rPICARD to calibrate data from different arrays, including high-frequency and low-sensitivity arrays. The amplitude calibration is based on standard telescope metadata, and a robust algorithm can solve for atmospheric opacity attenuation in the high-frequency regime. Standard CASA tasks are used for CLEAN imaging and self-calibration. <BR /> Results: In this work we demonstrate the capabilities of rPICARD by calibrating and imaging 7 mm Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) data of the central radio source in the M 87 galaxy. The reconstructed jet image reveals a complex collimation profile and edge-brightened structure, in accordance with previous results. A potential counter-jet is detected that has 10% of the brightness of the approaching jet. This constrains jet speeds close to the radio core to about half the speed of light for small inclination angles.STAMPAenArticle10.1051/0004-6361/2019351812-s2.0-85070691996000471641800005https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab11412019A&A...626A..75JFIS/05 - ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICA