Basic Techniques of RADIO ASTRONOMY

This book is a compilation of author’s lectures on Basic Techniques of Radio Astronomy (http://www.gmrt.ncra.tifr.res.in/~joardar/). It is for people associated with radio telescope building and data analysis. They include (i) students (ii) astronomers, (iii) engineers, and (iv) academicians. The book begins with the foundation of radio astronomy and then goes on to explain the fundamentals, polarization, designing radio telescopes, understanding radio arrays, interferometers, receiving systems, mapping techniques, image processing and propagation effects. The final chapter presents the 2016 version of the GMRT radio array as an example of the explained techniques. This second edition is revised and enhanced. Appendix-A is newly added to refresh the essentials of physics and engineering required for this course. Appendix-B describes the time standards, astronomical coordinates, u-v-w coordinates etc. Appendix-C gives a minimum background of antenna theory. It is advisable to go through them together with the first chapter. Review questions at the end of each chapter and appendix contain hints for easy solutions or direct answers. The bibliography mentions only the published materials. The book-cover shows a GMRT antenna. Compilation and drawings are by the author.