The Role of VLBI in Astrophysics, Astrometry and Geodesy

416 Pages·2005·9.19 MB·English

by  Franco Mantovani (auth.)

The Role of VLBI in Astrophysics, Astrometry and
Geodesy
NATO Science Series
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Series II:Mathematics,Physics and Chemistry – Vol.135
The Role of VLBI in Astrophysics,
Astrometry and Geodesy
edited by
Franco Mantovani
Istituto di Radioastronomia,
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bologna, Italy
and
Andrzej Kus
Radio Astronomy Department,
Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK,BOSTON, DORDRECHT, LONDON, MOSCOW
eBookISBN: 1-4020-2406-1
Print ISBN: 1-4020-1875-4
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ix
Acknowledgements ix
List of Participants xi
1. Radio astronomy. A short historical introduction 1–12
F. Mantovani
2. Principles of synchrotron emission in an astrophysical context 13–27
T. Huege and H. Falcke
3. Non-thermal emission from extragalactic radio sources: a high
resolution broad band approach 29–82
G. Brunetti
4. The observational properties of blazars; selection relationships
and unification 83–91
I.W.A. Browne
5. Observing blazars with VLBI 93–106
R.W. Porcas
6. Theory of relativistic jets: basic concepts 107–127
E. Ko¨rding and H. Falcke
7. Parsec-scale morphologies and properties of radio sources 129–141
T. Venturi
8. Supermassive black holes in the universe 143–156
A. Brunthaler and H. Falcke
9. Young powerful radio sources and their evolution 157–174
R. Fanti
10. AGN unification; past, present and future 175–189
I.W.A. Browne
v
vi
11. Radio polarimetry 191–204
W.D. Cotton
12. Gravitational lensing with radio bias 205–217
I.W.A. Browne
13. VLBI Observations of gravitational lenses 219–231
R.W. Porcas
14. Scintillation in extragalactic radio sources 233–242
M. Bondi
15. Supernovae 243–256
J.M. Marcaide
16. Astrophysical Masers 257–288
R.S. Booth and P.J. Diamond
17. Radio and optical interferometry 289–305
W.D. Cotton
18. Optical interferometry: astronomical application 307–317
W.D. Cotton
19. Data analysis 319–336
W.D. Cotton
20. Deep fields: the faint sub-mJy and microJy radio sky:
a VLBI perspective 337–347
M.A. Garrett
21. Space VLBI 349–358
S. Frey
22. VLBI for geodesy and geodynamics 359–381
J. Campbell
23. Tropospheric and ionospheric phase calibration 383–401
J.-F. Lestrade
The Role of VLBI in Astrophysics, Astrometry and Geodesy vii
24. Ground based VLBI facilities: the european and global
VLBI network 403–413
M.A. Garrett
Preface
The NATO Advanced Study Institute Series ’The Role of VLBI in As-
trophysics, Astrometry and Geodesy’ appears 13 years after the pioneering
summer school on ’VLBI Techniques and Applications’ edited by M. Felli
and R.E. Spencer. Its purpose is to update and expand our knowledge on
the scientific potential of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and
its development. In particular, the VLBI technique is reviewed in the light
of the most advanced astronomical observations. The scientific issues in
the field of galactic and extragalactic astronomy, astrometry and geodesy,
where this technique is recognised to play a crucial role, are emphasized.
The book includes such important aspects as a high-resolution approach to
non-thermal emission from extragalactic radio sources and the principles of
synchrotronemissioninanastrophysical context.Thebasicconceptsofthe
theory of relativistic jets are presented. The evolution of young, powerful
radio sources is explained, while the structure of radio sources is treated in
the context of the unified scheme models. Important topics are discussed,
such as scintillation of extragalactic radio sources, radio polarimetry, in-
vestigation of the faint sub-mJy and micro-Jy radio sky, evolution of radio
emission from Supernovae, and astrophysical masers. In addition the read-
ers will find more technical issues such as radio and optical interferometry
and tropospheric and ionospheric phase calibration. Applications and re-
sults of VLBI for Geodesy and Geodynamics are also extensively discussed.
This book is intended to be a support for teachers and students in Astro-
physics and Geodesy at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and an aid
for scientists planning their own investigations.
Acknowlegments
The Editors wish to thank the NATO Science Committee of the Ad-
vanced Study Institute programme, the European VLBI Consortium Di-
rectors for their continued encouragements, the Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche (CNR) and the EC FP5 Project Infrastructure Cooperation Net-
work in Radio Astronomy - RadioNET (Contract No. HPRI-CT-1999-
40003) for the funds made available to the students.
The Editors also wish to thank the members of the Local Organizing
Committee for making the Institute a success, and the staff of the Com-
puterCentreoftheIstitutodiRadioastronomiaforprovidingthecomputer
facilities for tutorials and internet connections.
The Mayor of Castel San Pietro Terme, the Mayor of Medicina, the
Chairman of the ’Pro Loco’ Castel San Pietro Terme, are thanked for their
ix
x
kind collaboration, and the Manager and the staff of the Albergo delle
Terme, where the Institute was held, for their contribution to a pleasent
stay for all the participants.
Finally, The Editors wish to thank the lecturers for their stimulating
contributions and the students for their active participation, in particular
those who have given oral presentations at the Institute.