Bernard F. Burke, Francis Graham-Smith

An Introduction to Radio Astronomy

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Written by two prominent figures in radio astronomy, this well-established, graduate-level textbook is a thorough introduction to radio telescopes and techniques. It is an invaluable overview for students and researchers turning to radio astronomy for the first time. The first half of the book describes how radio telescopes work - from basic antennas and single aperture dishes through to full aperture-synthesis arrays. It includes reference material on the fundamentals of astrophysics and observing techniques. The second half of the book reviews radio observations of our galaxy, stars, pulsars, radio galaxies, quasars, and the cosmic microwave background. This third edition describes the applications of fundamental techniques to newly developing radio telescopes, including ATA, LOFAR, MWA, SKA, and ALMA, which all require an understanding of aspects specific to radio astronomy. Two entirely new chapters now cover cosmology, from the fundamental concepts to the most recent results of WMAP.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• 3. Aufl.
• Seitenzahl: 458
• Erscheinungstermin: 9. September 2010
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 253mm
• Gewicht: 1037g
• ISBN-13: 9780521878081
• ISBN-10: 052187808X
• Artikelnr.: 26427032

Inhaltsangabe

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. The nature of the radio signal; 3. Signals, noise, radiometers and spectrometers; 4. Single-aperture radio telescopes; 5. The two-element interferometer; 6. Aperture synthesis; 7. Radiation, propagation and absorption of radio waves; 8. The local universe; 9. The interstellar medium; 10. Galactic dynamics; 11. Stars; 12. Pulsars; 13. Radio galaxies and quasars; 14. Cosmology fundamentals; 15. The angular structure of the CMB; 16. Cosmology: discrete radio sources and gravitational lensing; 17. The future of radio astronomy; Appendixes; References; Index.

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Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. The Emission, Propagation, and Detection of Radio Waves: 1. The role of radio observations in astronomy; 2. Emission and general properties of radio waves; 3. Spectral lines; 4. Radio wave propagation; 5. The nature of the received radio signal; 6. Radiometers; 7. Spectrometers and polarimeters; Part II. Radio Telescopes and Aperture Synthesis: 8. Single-aperture radio telescopes; 9. The basics of interferometry; 10. Aperture synthesis; 11. Further interferometric techniques; Part III. The Radio Cosmos: 12. The Sun and the planets; 13. Stars and nebulae; 14. The Milky Way galaxy; 15. Pulsars; 16. Active galaxies; 17. The radio contributions to cosmology; Appendix 1. Fourier transforms; Appendix 2. Celestial coordinates and time; Appendix 3. Digitization; Appendix 4. Calibrating polarimeters; Appendix 5. Spherical harmonics; References; Index.

Rezensionen

From a previous edition: 'Written by two of the world's leading radio astronomers ... If you are looking for an up-to-date review of radio astronomy, from the telescopes and techniques to the fabulous wonders of the Universe they reveal, then this is the book for you.' Geoff Macdonald, Astronomy Now