Course Description and Goals:
In this class we will learn about the basic components of radio
telescopes and how they work in practice to explore our universe. We
will study the emission mechanisms that produce radio waves, and
what we have learned about astrophysical objects through radio
studies. We will also explore the concepts of synthesis imaging which
make use of many small telescopes to synthesise apertures much larger
than practical to build. As an integral part of the class we will
carry out observations of distant active galaxies using the Very Large
Array (VLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), both operated out of
Socorro, NM. Each student, or group of students, will learn how to
calibrate, image, and analyze their own VLA and VLBA data. We will
make a 1-day field trip to the VLA (probably on a Saturday or Sunday)
during our observations as part of the class.
Course Texts:
RW: Rohlfs & Wilson (chapter sections will be indicated; pages if necessary)
SI:Synthesis Imaging in Radio Astronomy II by Taylor, Carilli & Perley
(electronic version available for individual chapters assigned below, or
you can peruse the book (45 MB).)
Class time and location: P&A 184, Tu/Th, 12:30 - 1:45pm
Instructor: Greg Taylor, gbtaylor@unm.edu, P&A 180, 277-5238,
home page, Office Hours:
Th 3-5pm or drop by.
Homework:
There will be several homework assignments, each due at the beginning
of class one week from the time it is assigned unless otherwise
specified.
Grades:
Grades will be based on two midterm exams (35%), the homework sets (25%),
the written presentations of the projects (20%) and the oral
presentations of the projects (20%). There will be no final exam.
Schedule of Topics |
| Date | Topic | Reading | Notes |
| 16/18 Jan (Tu & Th) | Introduction to Radio Astronomy & this course, Survey of Radio Science | RW (1.1, 1.2) | |
| 23/25 Jan (Tu & Th) | Blackbody radiation and radiative transfer | RW (1.3-1.6) | HW 1 assigned |
| 30 Jan/1 Feb (Tu & Th) | Wave equation, polarization and propogation | RW (3.1-3.2, 3.5) | HW 2 assigned |
| 6/8 Feb (Tu & Th) | Fourier transforms, signal processing and receivers. Single Dish telescopes | SI (3) RW (4) 48-70, 76-80, 95-109 | HW 3 assigned |
| 13 Feb (Tu) | Interferometry and Synthesis Imaging | SI (2) | |
| 13/15 Feb (Th) | Interferometry continued | | |
| 18 Feb (Su) | VLA Observing and Tour All day | | |
| 20 Feb (Tu) | Midterm number 1 | | |
| 22 Feb (Th) | Interferometry, Correlators | SI (6), SI (7) | HW 4 assigned |
| 27 Feb/1 Mar (Tu & Th) | Calibration, Polarization in Interferometry | SI (5), AIPStutorial.pdf | HW 5 on VLA Calibration, Project assigned |
| 6/8 Mar (Tu & Th) | Imaging, Self Calibration | SI (10), SI (16) | HW 6 on VLA imaging |
| Week of 12 March | SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS | | |
| 20/22 Mar (Tu & Th) | Non-Imaging Data Analysis, Very Long Baseline Interferometry, Geodesy | RW (10.7) SI (22) | HW 7 on VLBA imaging |
| 27/29 Mar (Tue & Th) | Synchrotron Emission and Magnetic fields, Brehmsstralung | RW (9.1-9.5, 9.7-9.12) | HW 8 assigned |
| 3/5 Apr (Tu & Th) | Thermal and non-thermal radio sources. | RW (10.1-10.5) | Project Outline Due |
| 10/12 Apr (Tu & Th) | Long Wavelength Interferometry and Science, Gamma Ray Bursts and Supernovae | | |
| 17 Apr (Tu) | Midterm number 2 | | |
| 19 Apr (Th) | Spectral Lines | RW (11, 12) | |
| 24/26 Apr (Tu & Th) | Inosphere, Future Instruments | | |
| 1/3 May (Tu & Th) | Oral Presentations on projects | | |
| 7 May (M) | Written Reports Due | | |