Reduction of ringing effects by an improved deconvolution algorithm

We develop a self-consistent automatic procedure to restore information from astronomical observations. It relies on both a new deconvolution algorithm called LBCA (Lower Bound Constraint Algorithm) and the use of the Wiener filter. In order to explore its scientific potential for strong and weak gravitational lensing, we process a CFHT image of the galaxy cluster Abell 370 which exhibits spectacular strong gravitational lensing effects. A high quality restoration is here of particular interest to map the dark matter within the cluster. We show that the LBCA is especially efficient to reduce ringing effects introduced by classical deconvolution algorithms in images with a high background. The method allows us to make a blind detection of the radial arc and to recover morphological properties similar to those observed from HST data. We also show that the Wiener filter is suitable to stop the iterative process before noise amplification, using only the unrestored data