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 a single, much larger
aperture. As an integral part of the class we will
carry out observations of cosmic radio sources using the Very Large
Array (VLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), both operated out of
Socorro, NM. Each student, working as part of a team, will learn how to
calibrate, image, and analyze VLA and VLBA data. We will
take a 1-day field trip to the VLA on Saturday, February 21 that
coincides with 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 5, M/W, 3:30 - 4:45pm
Instructor: Greg Taylor, gbtaylor@unm.edu, P&A 180, 277-5238,
home page, Office Hours:
Tu 9-11am 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 | Homework |
| 21 Jan (W) | Introduction to Radio Astronomy and this course | RW (1.1) | |
| 26 Jan (M) | Survey of Radio Science | RW (1.2) | |
| 28 Jan (W) | Blackbody radiation | RW (1.3-1.4) | HW 1 assigned |
| 31 Jan (Sa) | VLBA Schedule Due | 4 hours any GST | |
| 2 Feb (M) | Radiative transfer | RW (1.5-1.6) | |
| 4 Feb (W) | Wave equation, polarization and propogation | RW (3.1-3.2, 3.5) | HW 2 assigned |
| 9 Feb (M) | Wave equation, polarization and propogation | RW (3.1-3.2, 3.5) | |
| 11 Feb (W) | Fourier transforms, signal processing and receivers. | RW (4) 48-70, 76-80, 95-109 | HW 3 assigned |
| 16 Feb (M) | Single Dish telescopes | SI (3) | |
| 18 Feb (W) | Interferometry and Synthesis Imaging | SI (2) | |
| 21 Feb (Sa) | VLA Observing and Tour All day | 0000-0230 LST, day 61606 | |
| 23 Feb (M) | Interferometry continued | SI (2) | |
| 25 Feb (W) | Midterm number 1 | | |
| 2 Mar (M) | Interferometry, Correlators | SI (6), SI (7) | |
| 4 Mar (W) | Calibration | SI (5), AIPStutorial.pdf | HW 4 assigned |
| 9 Mar (M) | Polarization in Interferometry | SI (5), AIPStutorial.pdf Project assigned | |
| 11 Mar (W) | Imaging | SI (10), SI (16) | HW 5 on VLA Calibration |
| Week of 16 March | SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS | | |
| 23 Mar (M) | Self-calibration | SI (10), SI (16) | |
| 25 Mar (W) | Non-Imaging Data Analysis | RW (10.7) SI (22) | HW 6 on VLA imaging |
| 30 Mar (M) | Very Long Baseline Interferometry, Geodesy | RW (10.7) SI (22) | |
| 1 Apr (W) | Synchrotron Emission and Magnetic fields, Brehmsstralung | RW (9.1-9.5, 9.7-9.12) | HW 7 on VLBA imaging |
| 6 Apr (M) | Brehmsstralung | RW (9.1-9.5, 9.7-9.12) | |
| 8 Apr (W) | Thermal radio sources | RW (10.1-10.5) | HW 8 assigned |
| 13 Apr (M) | Non-Thermal radio sources. | RW (10.1-10.5) | Project Outline Due |
| 15 Apr (W) | Long Wavelength Interferometry and Science | | |
| 20 Apr (M) | Ionosphere | | |
| 22 Apr (W) | Midterm number 2 | | |
| 27 Apr (M) | Spectral Lines | RW (11, 12) | |
| 29 Apr (W) | Future Instruments | | |
| 4 May (M) | Oral Presentations on projects | | |
| 6 May (M) | Oral Presentations on projects | | |
| 11 May (M) | Written Reports Due | | |