The recent years have seen breathtaking progress in technology, especially in the receiver and digital technologies relevant for radio astronomy, which has at the same time advanced to shorter wavelengths. This is the updated and completely revised 5th edition of the most used introductory text in radio astronomy. It presents a unified treatment of the entire field from centimeter to sub-millimeter wavelengths. Topics covered include instruments, sensitivity considerations, observational methods and interpretations of the data recorded with both single dishes and interferometers. This text is useful to both students and experienced practicing astronomers. Besides making major updates and additions throughout the book, the authors have re-organized a number of chapters to more clearly separate basic theory from rapidly evolving practical aspects. Further, problem sets have been added at the end of each chapter.
Author(s): Thomas L. Wilson, Kristen Rohlfs, Susanne Hüttemeister (auth.)
Series: Astronomy and Astrophysics Library
Edition: 5th ed.
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 520
Tags: Astronomy; Microwaves, RF and Optical Engineering; Astrophysics; Electromagnetism, Optics and Lasers
Front Matter....Pages I-XV
Radio Astronomical Fundamentals....Pages 1-18
Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Fundamentals....Pages 19-37
Wave Polarization....Pages 39-54
Signal Processing and Receivers: Theory....Pages 55-78
Practical Receiver Systems....Pages 79-119
Fundamentals of Antenna Theory....Pages 121-143
Practical Aspects of Filled Aperture Antennas....Pages 145-171
Single Dish Observational Methods....Pages 173-200
Interferometers and Aperture Synthesis....Pages 201-237
Emission Mechanisms of Continuous Radiation....Pages 239-276
Some Examples of Thermal and Nonthermal Radio Sources....Pages 277-317
Spectral Line Fundamentals....Pages 319-328
Line Radiation of Neutral Hydrogen....Pages 329-358
Recombination Lines....Pages 359-386
Overview of Molecular Basics....Pages 387-417
Molecules in Interstellar Space....Pages 419-462
Back Matter....Pages 463-517