Direct Optimal Mapping for 21 cm Cosmology: A Demonstration with the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array

Abstract Motivated by the desire for wide-field images with well-defined statistical properties 21 cm cosmology, we implement an optimal mapping pipeline that computes a maximum likelihood estimator sky using interferometric measurement equation. We demonstrate this “direct mapping” data from Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization (HERA) Phase I observations. After validating simulated data, develop figure-of-merit comparing four models at 166 MHz bandwidth 100 kHz. The HERA agree GLEAM catalogs to < 10%. subtracting point sources, discriminate between different continuum models, providing most support model Byrne et al. report computation cost and project 320-antenna data; both are feasible modern server. algorithm is broadly applicable other interferometers valid noncoplanar arrays.