Radio Astronomy 1

The objective of this course is to provide the key knowledge of instruments and methods used in astronomical observations in a wide range of frequencies, from radio to sub-millimetric waves. The course is structured around three main topics: receivers, antennas and telescopes, interferometry

At the end of the course the student will:
· Understand the basic principles and theories of the propagation of electro magnetic waves through radio and microwave transmission lines and receivers
· Know the main types of radio astronomical antennas, with particular reference to corrugated feed horn antennas and reflector antennas
· Understand the principles and characteristics of coherent total power receivers, differential receivers, coherent pseudo-correlation polarimeters, incoherent receivers (bolometers, TES, Kinetic Inductance detectors)
· Understand the noise properties of the main types of receivers. He will be able to calculate the noise temperature of a simple radiometer
· Understand the theory of the two-antenna interferometer and the basis of the aperture-synthesis interferometry