A masterly survey of the last 13 years of Very Long Baseline Interferometry, reviewed in light of the most advanced astronomical observations. Topics covered include: Nonthermal emission from extragalactic radio sources; Principles of synchrotron emission in relation to astrophysics; Theory of relativistic jets; Young, powerful radio sources and their evolution; Scintillation in extragalactic radio sources; Radio and optical interferometry; Radio polarimetry; Unified schemes; Deep fields; Tropospheric and ionospheric phase calibration; Supernovae; VLBI for geodesy and geodynamics.
A unified description of the theory and practice of radio interferometry and synthesis mapping techniques as they apply to astronomy and geology. Beginning with an historical review, it goes on to provide a detailed description of all aspects of radio inferometry, from basic principles through instrumental design to data reduction. Over 450 original papers and monographs are cited.
This open access book on the history of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory covers the scientific discoveries and technical innovations of late 20th century radio astronomy with particular attention to the people and institutions involved. The authors have made extensive use of the NRAO Archives, which contain an unparalleled collection of documents pertaining to the history of radio astronomy, including the institutional records of NRAO as well as the personal papers of many of the pioneers of U.S. radio astronomy. Technical details and extensive citations to original sources are given in notes for the more technical readers, but are not required for an understanding of the body of the book. This book is intended for an audience ranging from interested lay readers to professional researchers studying the scientific, technical, political, and cultural development of a new science, and how it changed the course of 20th century astronomy.
This book provides the first comprehensive historical account of the evolution of scientific traditions in astronomy, astrophysics, and the space sciences within the Max Planck Society. Structured with in-depth archival research, interviews with protagonists, unpublished photographs, and an extensive bibliography, it follows a unique history: from the post-war relaunch of physical sciences in West Germany, to the spectacular developments and successes of cosmic sciences in the second half of the 20th century, up to the emergence of multi-messenger astronomy. It reveals how the Society acquired national and international acclaim in becoming one of the world’s most productive research organizations in these fields.
In this second edition of Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy, three leading figures in the development of large imaging arrays, including very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), describe and explain the technology that provides images of the universe with an angular resolution as fine as 1/20,000 of an arcsecond. This comprehensive volume begins with a historical review followed by detailed coverage of the theory of interferometry and synthesis imaging, analysis of interferometer response, geometrical relationships, polarimetry, antennas, and arrays. Discussion of the receiving system continues with analysis of the response to signals and noise, analog design requirements, and digital signal processing. The authors detail special requirements of VLBI including atomic frequency standards, broadband recording systems, and antennas in orbit. Further major topics include: Calibration of data and synthesis of images Image enhancement using nonlinear algorithms Techniques for astrometry and geodesy Propagation in the neutral atmosphere and ionized media Radio interference Related techniques: intensity interferometry, moon occultations, antenna holography, and optical interferometry ”This edition meets current demands by providing a comprehensive account of the techniques used today.“ (La Doc STI) [...] The up-to-date edition of Thompson [...] with its exhaustive bibliography, becomes the indispensable source of background for those already in, or considering, radio astronomy.“ (The Observatory)
This well-schooled text provides a detailed description of how to perform practical astronomy or spherical astronomy. It is an authoritative source on astronomical phenomena and calendars.
The physics of active galactic nuclei, the origin of extragalactic jets and the formation of extended extragalactic radio sources are among the most interesting challenges of modern astrophysics. This book contains the proceedings of the 7th meeting of the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, which drew together both theorists and observers in this exciting field. Recent observational data at X-ray, optical and radio wavelengths is discussed, and new theoretical developments concerning beam and jet formation models are considered. Special treatment is given to plasma physics problems related to particle acceleration, magnetic reconnection, beam-plasma interaction and coherent emission. The volume will be of use to all students and researchers who are working in this field.
