File formats

There are two main file format for IFS final data products, and one further prospective format. The first of these file formats is a MOS style multi-extension FITS file, and is being put forward by the GEMINI group. The other main format is an $xy\lambda$--data cube which is used by the Durham group (i.e. for SMIRFS and TEIFU data).

Of these two formats the more natural for data analysis is the TEIFU style data cube, it has therefore been adopted as the standard format by the major IFS groups in the UK, Durham (SMIRFS and TEIFU), Cambridge (CIRPASS) and the ATC (UIST). Conversion between the GMOS/CIRPASS MEF and UK standard data cube formats will therefore need to be implemented before these instruments are brought into general use. The EOS VIMOS instrument will provide its final data product in both MEF and data-cube formats.

The final IFS format is still in draft, and is the new IRAF spectroscopic file format. The specification is intended to provide a general description for two-dimensional spectroscopic image data, and should be able to represent long-slit, multi-object (MOS), integral-field unit (IFU) and slitless spectroscopy. Conversion between this format and the standard data-cube format will be implemented if the standard is adopted.