Radio Astronomy Lab Files
(Fall 2011)
The following files and packages (links provided) are useful for radio astronomy labs.
Note: please e-mail me if there are any problems not currently documents (marrj@union.edu). Thank you.
Single-Dish Labs:
SRT_Plotter.zip: java program for processing and analyzing data from a Haystack SRT.
Aperture Synthesis Labs:
IntroductiontoVSRT.pdf: Explanation of the hardware, how to use the VSRT and the
analysis software (VSRTI_Plotter).
HowtheVSRTWorks.pdf: Mathematical derivation proving that the VSRT Interferometer
simulates (somewhat) a cross-correlation by measuring the magnitudes of the complex Visibilities
VSRTILabs.pdf: Instructions for 4 labs using the VSRT Interferometer
on the basics of aperture synthesis
-- how an array of antennas can produce images of radio sources
VSRTI_Plotter.zip: a package of java files to be used for labs on aperture synthesis
using the Haystack VSRT Interferometer, although these programs are also useful
demonstrations of the basics of aperture synthesis for those users lacking the
VSRT Interferometer equipment.
TIFT.zip: "Tool for Interactive Fourier Transforms" A java package for
learning about Fourier transforms and cosine transforms by inputting functions and
immediately seeing the transform function.
