Radio astronomy currently finds itse lf in the midst of a new “golden era” with the upgrade of many existing facilities underway and the construction and development of huge, next generation telescopes such as LOFAR (here in the Netherlands), ALMA, and the Square Km Array. Radio astronomy has a special place in modern astrophysics - it spans almost 5 decades of the e-m spectrum, traces the distribution of dark matter in galaxies via observations of the most abundant element in the Universe (neutral Hydrogen), is sensitive to a diverse range of both thermal and non-thermal phenomena/objects, reveals a truly unobscured view of the structure of our own Milky way and other galaxies, uniquely probes the strength and direction of magnetic fields across interstellar and indeed intergalactic space, and offers the only way to study the earliest epochs of the Universe via measurements of the cosmic microwave background and the evolution of the neutral hydrogen content during the epoch of reionisation, when the first stars began to shine and the first galaxies began to form.

This course provides an introduction to the tools, techniques, and science of radio astronomy. Discussion includes: fundamentals and early history of measuring cosmic radio signals, the basic properties of antennas and receivers, the theory of interferometery, radio spectroscopy and emission mechanisms, advanced calibration and imaging techniques, overview of existing facilities and next generation radio telescopes, specific science topics inlcude - deep extragalactic surveys, the WMAP CMB results, gravitational lensing, VLBI, imaging of neutral hydrogen, and SETI (the search for extraterrestrial intelligence).

Lecturer: Prof. M.A. Garrett
Assistant: J. R. Martinez
Target group: Master students
Prerequisites:
Period: 5 February - 28 May 2009
Programme Form Lectures (plus 2 practical sessions and a field-trip to the LOFAR core site, Westerbork telescope and ASTRON)
Examination Oral, by appointment
Level/Appreciation 400, 6 EC
More information at: www.astron.nl/~mag/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=radio_astronomy_course_description

In 2009, the course was completely re-written and updated with a more balanced emphasis on the science, as well as the technique.

The course was well received with the average rating being 9/10 - here are the anonymous student comments and ratings made by the class of 2009. The 2011 course will take these comments into account and probably include a new tutorial session.

The field-trip to ASTRON (Dwingeloo, LOFAR-Exloo, WSRT-Westerbork) proved popular:

An overview of the course is provided radio_astronomy_overview_ma_garrett.pdf
N.B. the relation between specific lectures/practical sessions and dates is subject to change.

Lecture 1a,b, 5 Feb: Introduction, course overview, early history of radio astronomy, radio telescopes, what makes radio astronomy special, major discoveries.
radio_astronomy_lec_1_ma_garrett.pdf

Lecture 2, 12 Feb: Defining terms (brightness temperature, intensity, flux density), tools of the trade (Fourier transforms, decibels), Radio Telescopes, antennas, parabolas, efficiency and performance. Receivers (feeds) and frequency flexibility.
radio_astronomy_lec_2_ma_garrett.pdf

Lecture 3a,b, 19 Feb: Hetrodyne receivers, bolometers, components of system temperature, square law detectors, receiver chains (gain and loss), measuring TSYS, telecope figures of merit, calibrating a telescope, focusing and pointing a telescope, sensitivity, data sampling/representation. New developments (receivers/antennas): multi-beam receivers, aperture arrays (LOFAR & EMBRACE), focal plane arrays (APERTIF), large N - small D concepts.
radio_astronomy_lec_3_ma_garrett.pdf

Lecture 4a,b, 26 Feb: Interferometry, basics (Young's slits), 2-antenna case, adding/multiplying/complex correlators, multiple-antennas, imaging radio sources, aperture synthesis. UV-coverage, CLEAN (introduction) and examples of various interferometer arrays.
radio_astronomy_lec_4_ma_garrett.pdf

Practical session 1, March 12: Basic concepts of interferometry. UV plane, UV coverage, Fourier transform, image deconvolution and CLEANing.
The practical notes practicum1.pdf

Lecture 5a,b, HI - to be rescheduled.

Lecture 6a,b, March 19: Recap - practical session; Cosmic radio emission - emission mechanisms: - thermal (e.g. dust) - non-thermal (e.g. synchrotron), discrete (spectral line) e.g. (HI, CO), recombination lines , maser emission. Radio SED of “normal” galaxies.
radio_astronomy_lec_6_ma_garrett.pdf

Lecture 7a: March 26: The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): anistoropies - theory and measurements, foreground subtraction (see lecture 6), COBE & WMAP results, interpretation, S-Z effect, future missions.
radio_astronomy_lec_7_ma_garrett.pdf

Lecture 7b: March 26: The Square Km Array (SKA) - guest lecture from Prof. Richard Schilizzi (Director of the SKA Project Development Office).

Lecture 8a,b, April 2: Calibration & Advanced imaging - phase stability due to atmospheric effects, self-calibration, hybrid mapping, phase referencing, wide-field imaging - distortions, smearing etc, telescope survey speed, data weighting - CLEAN, Peeling techniques.
radio_astronomy_lec_8_ma_garrett.pdf

Lecture 9a,b, April 9: Radio Polarisation and magnetic fields - Guest lecture by Dr. Marijke Haverkorn: polarisation overview, stokes parameters, calibration, role of cosmic magentic fields, polarisation by dust scalttering, synchrotron, faraday rotation, RM synthesis, large and small-scale magnetic fields, magnetic fields in galaxies, clusters, measuring polarisation properties of the CMB.
haverkorn_polarisation.pdf

Practical session 2, April 16: Spectral line demo.
ra_practical2.pdf

Lecture 10a,b, April 23: Galaxy surveys, source counts and confusion, radio source populations - AGN and Star formers, FRI/II radio jets, superluminal motion, doppler boosting, AGN unification models, microJy radio source population, FIR-radio correlation, Submillimetre Galaxies (SMGs), High-z galaxy evolution. radio_astronomy_lec_10_ma_garrett.pdf

Lecture 5a,b, rescheduled to May 7 - Neutral Hyddrogen in emission and absorption - guest lecture by Raffaella Morganti
morganti_hi.pdf.zip

Lecture 11a,b, May 14: Conclude with those topics we have not yet addressed: VLBI(!) techniques and science - some examples (incl. gravitational lensing). Future telescopes (mostly already covered) - perhaps with more of a focus on EoR tomorgraphy, SETI. Any requests?

radio_astronomy_lec_11_ma_garrett.pdf

No single text is used in this course. You may find parts of the following texts useful:

“Synthesis Imaging in Radio Astronomy II” ASPC Series, Volume 180, edited by G.B. Taylor, C.L. Carilli and R.A. Perley, Astronomical Society of the Pacific (1999).

“Very Long Baseline Interferometry: Techniques and Applications”, edited by M. Felli and R.E. Spencer, Springer (2001) Applications of VLBI for astronomy, astrometry and geodesy.

“Radio Astronomy”, 2nd edition, by J.D. Kraus, Cygnus-Quarar Books (1986).

“Radio Telescopes”, 2nd edition, by W.N. Christiansen and J.A. Hogbom, Cambridge University Press (1969).

“Tools of Radio Astronomy”, 2nd edition, by K. Rohlfs and T.L. Wilson, Springer-Verlag Telos (1996).

“An Introduction to Radio Astronomy”, 2nd edition, by B.F. Burke and F. Graham-Smith, Cambridge University Press (2002).

“Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy”, 2nd edition, by A.R. Thompson, J.M. Moran and G.W. Swenson, Wiley-Interscience (2001).

1) Radio Emission from Normal Galaxies
J J Condon
http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.aa.30.090192.003043

2) PARSEC-SCALE JETS IN EXTRAGALACTIC RADIO SOURCES
J. Anton Zensus
http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.astro.35.1.607?prevSearch=%28Radio+galaxies%29+AND+%5Bjournal%3A+astro%5D&searchHistoryKey=%24%7BsearchHistoryKey%7D

3) Millimeter and Submillimeter Interferometry of Astronomical Sources
A I Sargent, and W J Welch
http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.aa.31.090193.001501

4) Cassiopeia A: dust factory revealed via submillimetre polarimetry
L. Dunne 1 et al.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122262147/HTMLSTART?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

5) Submillimeter Continuum Properties of Cold Dust in the Inner Disk and Outflows of M82 (ANNELIES)
Leeuw, Lerothodi L.; Robson, E. Ian
http://arxiv.org/abs/0812.3682

6) A deeply embedded young protoplanetary disk around L1489 IRS observed by the Submillimeter Array (MICHIEL)
C. Brinch1 - A. Crapsi1 - J. K. Jørgensen2,3 - M. R. Hogerheijde1 - T. Hill1
http://www.aanda.org/index.php?option=article&access=bibcode&bibcode=2007A%2526A...475..915BFUL

7) Physical and chemical conditions in methanol maser selected hot cores and UCHII regions
C. R. Purcell et al.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122217998/HTMLSTART

8) The Double Pulsar (CAROLINE)
M. Kramer and I.H. Stairs
http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.astro.46.060407.145247?prevSearch=%5Btitle%3A+pulsar%5D&searchHistoryKey=%24%7BsearchHistoryKey%7D

9) Low Frequency Observations of Millisecond Pulsars with the WSRT (FRANCIS)
B. W. Stappers, R. Karuppusamy, J. W. T. Hessels
http://arxiv.org/abs/0712.3140

10) High-resolution studies of radio sources in the Hubble Deep and Flanking Fields (DANIEL)
Muxlow, T. W. B et al.
http://esoads.eso.org/abs/2005MNRAS.358.1159M

The presentations will take place on Thursday, May 28, starting at 13:30 in room 431.

13:30-13:55: Michiel Lambrechts: “A deeply embedded young protoplanetary disk around L1489 IRS observed by the Submillimeter Array”
13:55-14:20: Annelies Mortier: “Submillimeter Continuum Properties of Cold Dust in the Inner Disk and Outflows of M82”
14:20-14:45: Francis Vuijsje: “Low Frequency Observations of Millisecond Pulsars with the WSRT”
14:45-14:55: B R E A K
14:55-15:20: Caroline Straatman: “The Double Pulsar”
15:20-15:45: Daniel Harsono: “High-resolutio15:45-16:10: Sweta Shah: TBD

12 June 2009 0900-1830 - ROOM 538
09:00-10.00 - Caroline Straatman
09.45-11.00 - Sweta Shah
13:00-14:15 - Aleksandar Shulevski
14:15-15.30 - Annelies Mortier
15.30-16.45 - Daniel Harsono

2 July 2009 0900-1830
11:15 - Renske Smit - to be re-scheduled
13:00 - Michiel Lambrechts
14:15 - Marinus Israel
15:30 - Nienke Marel

To be scheduled:

Francis Vuijsje

Here is a document that should help you prepare for the oral examination. exam_info.rtf