Tools of Radio Astronomy (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library) - Hardcover

Rohlfs, Kristen; Wilson, T.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 354066016X ISBN 13: 9783540660163

Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K, 1999

Synopsis

This textbook gives an outline of the tools and methods of radio astronomy needed by students and astronomers who want to understand how to carry out observations and how to relate the data to physical processes in interstellar space. It gives a unified treatment of the entire field of radio astronomy from centimetre to sub-millimetre wavelengths, using single telescopes as well as interferometers. The first half of the text covers instrumentation and observational techniques, the second covers most of the principal areas of astronomical research emphasizing fundamental results. For the third edition, the text has additional sections on new receiver techniques, such as hot electron bolometers and chirp transform spectrometers. A section on pulsar astronomy has also been included.

About this title

Review

From the reviews of the fifth edition: "A very significant change from earlier versions is the addition of problem sets at the ends of each of the 16 chapters ... . the discussion of instrumentation and data collection and processing which looks forward to ALMA and the SKA, making the volume useful, the authors hope, for radio engineers (a grand old name, which they apply to Jansky and Reber) as well as radio astronomers ... . I’m sure you will find this iteration ... as useful as the previous four." (Virginia Trimble, The Observatory, Vol. 129 (1211), August, 2009) "The publication of a fifth edition of Tools of Radio Astronomy is in itself proof of the success of the book. ... will be useful to communication engineers, a claim about which one can have some reservations. ... this up-to-date version will be of invaluable use to the observational astronomer. ... provides a toolbox of essential material, in particular in the area of the analysis and interpretation of radio-astronomy observations. The book should be on the desk of every practicing radio astronomer ... ." (Jacob W. M. Baars, The Radio Science Bulletin, Issue 330, September, 2009)

From the Back Cover

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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 354066016X
• ISBN 13: 9783540660163
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 446