Simplify cross-comparisons between AtomDB and CHIANTI

[namurphy]

Description

Simplify the process of switching between CHIANTI and AtomDB when performing calculations or retrieving data. ✨

Motivation

AtomDB and CHIANTI are two widely used atomic databases in astrophysics and solar physics. Though the intended audiences are different, there is considerable overlap between what is covered by the two databases. Being able to easily perform the same calculations between the two databases would let users perform cross-checks, and help identify discrepancies between the two databases.

Implementation

The overarching idea would be to program to an interface, not an implementation. More specifically, this would entail creating interfaces (abstraction layers) such as between the database calls and the analysis functionality. This would make it easier to switch back and forth between databases.

There are two packages that provide access to CHIANTI: fiasco and ChiantiPy.

Since doing all of this would be quite high effort and require a fair bit of planning across multiple groups, it would make sense for this to be a meta-issue and create sub-issues. Given how much work it would take, it might also we worth labeling this issue with "wishlist"! 😅

Related issues

wtbarnes/fiasco#11

Thanks to Randall Smith for bringing this up in a chat earlier today!

[jmao2014]

Hi @namurphy,

For your information, we have a paper in preparation to address part of this issue (almost the same goal). This requires quite some effort, and we plan to build it up step-by-step.

Cheers,

Junjie

[jagophile]

Hi @namurphy and @jmao2014,
Yes, this is a long standing goal of many projects. The main issue is agreeing on what the standard interface calls should be - wrappers are then easy enough.

Happy to help in any way we can. I will add it to wishlist and we should discuss in the future.

Adam

[jmao2014]

Indeed, as we progress and wrap up the first paper this summer(?), this can be a good starting point for discussion (and planning for further works). Your thoughts and inputs would then be useful : )