Correcting Radio Astronomy Interferometry Observations for Ionospheric Refraction,

Abstract

Radio astronomical observations with local interferometers and very long baseline interferometers (VLSI) are affected by atmospheric (i.e. tropospheric and ionospheric) refraction. A correction procedure for ionospheric refraction for radio astronomy interferometry is reviewed in the present paper. This correction is applied to observations made with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT). The method used for WSRT observations can also be used to correct VLBI observations for ionospheric refraction. If networks of ionosonde and satellite observing stations operate during the astronomical VLBI observations, pathlength corrections ranging from several wavelengths to a fraction of a wavelength are possible, provided the geographical distribution of these stations is similar the VLBI network. The possibilities of this procedure are compared with the results derived by e.g. dual frequency VLBI observations.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADP003894

Entities

People

  • T. A. T. Spoelstra

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Astronomy
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Interferometers
  • Interferometry
  • Observation
  • Radio Astronomy
  • Radio Telescopes
  • Radio Waves
  • Refraction
  • Telescopes
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space