Synonyms
Definition
Radio astronomy describes the techniques employed, from antennas to receivers, to receive and measure long wavelength electromagnetic radiation (radio waves). The specificity of these techniques, by contrast with optical or high-energy astronomy, is the coherent detection of the wave electric field (amplitude E and phase φ), instead of the mere intensity (<E2>Δt). This makes interferometry easier, compensating for the poor angular resolution intrinsic to long wavelengths. Radio emissions are produced by processes often different from those in the optical range. These include cyclotron and synchrotron emissions, bremstrahlung, molecular and atomic transitions, and various coherent processes. Radio astronomy is especially adapted to probing plasmas (ionized/magnetized mater) as well as cold matter.
History
Radio astronomy is a recent branch of astronomy, born in the 1930s at low frequencies (22 MHz) with K. Jansky’s detection of lightning...
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References and Further Reading
Burke B, Graham-Smith F (1997) An introduction to radio astronomy. Cambridge University Press, New York
Hales A, Wootten A, Butler B (2010) Observing extrasolar planetary systems with ALMA. In: Gozdziewski K, Niedzielski A, Schneider J (eds) Extrasolar planets in multi-body systems: theory and observations. EDP Sciences, Les Ulis, France, vol 42, pp 143–151
Hamaker JP, Bregman JD, Sault RJ (1996) Understanding radio polarimetry. I. Mathematical foundations. Astron Astrophys Suppl Ser 117:137–165
http://herschel.esac.esa.int/ (Herschel)
http://iram.fr/IRAMFR/IS/school.htm (Proc. IRAM millimeter interferometry summer schools)
http://www.alma.nrao.edu (ALMA)
http://www.ece.vt.edu/swe/lwa (LWA memos)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/plasma/Goutelas2007/Presentations/ (Proc. XXXth Ecole de Goutelas CNRS/INSU/SF2A, Radioastronomie Basses Fréquences: Instrumentation, Thématiques scientifiques, Projets, 2007)
http://www.lofar.org (LOFAR)
http://www.nrao.edu (NRAO)
http://www.obs-nancay.fr (Nançay observatory)
http://www.sron.nl/divisions/lea/hifi/ (HIFI/Herschel)
Kassim NE, Weiler KW (eds) (1991) Low frequency astrophysics from space, Lecture notes in physics. Springer, Berlin
Kassim NE, Perez MR, Junor W, Henning PA (eds) (2005) From Clark lake to the long wavelength array. ASP conference series, San Francisco, CA, USA, vol 345. http://www.aspbooks.org/a/volumes/table_of_contents/?book_id=55
Kraus JD (1986) Radio astronomy, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York
Léna P, Rouan D, Lebrun F, Mignard F, Pelat D (2008) L’observation en astrophysique, 3rd edn. Savoirs Actuels, EDP Sciences, Les Ulis, France
Rohlfs K, Wilson TL (1996) Tools of radio astronomy, astronomy & astrophysics library, 2nd edn. Springer, Heidelberg
Sault RJ, Hamaker JP, Bregman JD (1996) Understanding radio polarimetry. II. Instrumental calibration of an interferometer array. Astron Astrophys Suppl Ser 117:149–159
Stone RG, Weiler KW, Goldstein ML, Bougeret J-L (eds) (2000) Radio astronomy at long wavelengths, vol 119, Geophysical monograph. American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC
Zarka P (2007) Plasma interactions of exoplanets with their parent star and associated radio emissions. Planet Space Sci 55:598–617
Zarka P (2010) Instrumentation et Observation en Radioastronomie, Cours du Master 2 Recherche de Sciences de l’;Univers et Technologies Spatiales de l’;Observatoire de Paris. http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/philippe-zarka/CoursPZ/Th2-PZ-2010_1BR.pdf
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Notations and Acronyms
- ALMA
-
Atacama large millimeter/submillimeter array
- COBE
-
Cosmic background explorer
- DM
-
Dispersion measure: DM = ∫LNe dL
- DSP
-
Digital signal processor
- f ce
-
Cyclotron frequency: fce = eB/2πme2πme; fce (Hz) = 2.8 × 1010 B (T)
- FFT
-
Fast fourier transform
- FIR
-
Far infrared
- f pe
-
Plasma frequency: fpe = (1/2π) (Nee2/εome)1/2; fpe (Hz) = 9 Ne1/2 (m−3)
- FOV
-
Field of view
- FPA
-
Focal plane array
- FPGA
-
Field programmable gate array
- IRAM
-
Institut de radio astronomie millimétrique
- LH
-
Left-handed (Circular or elliptical polarization)
- LOFAR
-
Low frequency array
- LWA
-
Long wavelength array
- mm/sub-mm
-
Millimeter/submillimeter wavelength ranges
- RAE
-
Radio astronomy explorer 1 and 2 satellites (1968–1973)
- RFI
-
Radio frequency interference
- RH
-
Right-handed (Circular or elliptical polarization)
- SKA
-
Square kilometer array
- UTR-2
-
Ukrainian T-shape radiotelescope – Mark II
- VLBI
-
Very long baseline interferometry
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Zarka, P. (2015). Radio Astronomy. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1339
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1339
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