Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Buenos Aires, 2005. / PDF copy of thesis. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Birmingham. / PDF copy of thesis. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D) - Swinburne University of Technology, Faculty of Information & Communication Technologies, 2009. / A dissertation presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, [Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies], Swinburne University of Technology, 2009. Typescript. Bibliography p. 215-236.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Traditional radio astronomy imaging techniques assume that the interferometric array is coplanar, with a small field of view, and that the two-dimensional Fourier relationship between brightness and visibility remains valid, allowing the Fast Fourier Transform to be used. In practice, to acquire more accurate data, the non-coplanar baseline effects need to be incorporated, as small height variations in the array plane introduces the w spatial frequency component. This component adds an additional phase shift to the incoming signals. There are two approaches to account for the non-coplanar baseline effects: either the full three-dimensional brightness and visibility model can be used to reconstruct an image, or the non-coplanar effects can be removed, reducing the three dimensional relationship to that of the two-dimensional one. This thesis describes and implements the w-projection and w-stacking algorithms. The aim of these algorithms is to account for the phase error introduced by non-coplanar synthesis arrays configurations, making the recovered visibilities more true to the actual brightness distribution model. This is done by reducing the 3D visibilities to a 2D visibility model. The algorithms also have the added benefit of wide-field imaging, although w-stacking supports a wider field of view at the cost of more FFT bin support. For w-projection, the w-term is accounted for in the visibility domain by convolving it out of the problem with a convolution kernel, allowing the use of the two-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform. Similarly, the w-Stacking algorithm applies a phase correction in the image domain to image layers to produce an intensity model that accounts for the non-coplanar baseline effects. This project considers the KAT7 array for simulation and analysis of the limitations and advantages of both the algorithms. Additionally, a variant of the Högbom CLEAN algorithm was used which employs contour trimming for extended source emission flagging. The CLEAN algorithm is an iterative two-dimensional deconvolution method that can further improve image fidelity by removing the effects of the point spread function which can obscure source data. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tradisionele beeldvormingstegnieke in radio-astronomie aanvaar dat die interferometriese skikking samevlakkig is. Dit beteken dat die twee-dimensionele Fourier verhouding tussen helderheid en sigbaarheid geldig bly en dat die Vinnige Fourier Transform aangewend kan word. Klein hoogtevariasies in die skikkingsvlak bring die w-ruimtelike frekwensiekomponent mee, wat ’n faseverskuiwing in die inkomende seine tot gevolg het. Dus, in praktyk, moet die bydrae van die nie-samevlakkige basislyneffekte in ag geneem word om sodoende die akkuraatheid van die data te verhoog. Twee benaderings kan gevolg word om die nie-samevlakkige basislyneffekte in ag te neem: Metodes wat die volle drie dimensionele helderheid en sigbaarheidsmodel gebruik kan toegepas word om ’n beeld te herbou, andersins kan die nie-samevlakkige effekte verwyder word om sodoende die drie-dimensionele verhouding te verminder tot ’n twee-dimensionele verhouding. Hierdie tesis beskryf en implementeer die ‘w-projeksie’ en ‘w-stapel’ algoritmes. Die doel van hierdie algoritmes is om die fasefout wat deur nie-samevlakkige sinteseskikkingskonfigurasies veroorsaak word, reg te stel. Hierdie regstelling maak die herwinde sigbaarheid van die beeld meer getrou aan die werklike helderheidsverspreidingsmodel. ’n Bykomende voordeel van die algoritmes is beeldvorming van wye-veld ruimtewaarnemings. In ‘w-projection’ word die w-term in die sigbaarheidsdomein in ag geneem deur die ruimtelike frekwensiekomponent met behulp van ’n konvolusiekern vanuit die probleem te verwyder. Die twee-dimensionele Vinnige Fourier Transform kan gevolglik toegepas word. Soortgelyk hieraan, wend die ‘w-Stacking’ algoritme ’n fasekorreksie aan tot ’n reeks beeldlae, om sodoende ’n beeld te verkry wat die nie-samevlakkige basislyneffekte in ag neem. Die KAT7 teleskoop is gebruik in die simulasie en analiese van die tekortkominge en voordele van beide algoritmes. ’n Hibriede weergawe van die Högbom CLEAN algoritme is bykomend oorweeg. Hierdie algoritme is ’n iteratiewe twee-dimensionele dekonvolusiemetode wat die betroubaarheid van beelde verbeter deur die verskansingseffek van puntverspreidingsfunksies te verwyder. Verder gebruik die Högbom CLEAN algoritme kontoersnoeiing om uitgebreide bron-emisies te identifiseer.

Decameter radiation was first observed from Jupiter by Burke and Franklin (JGR 60, 213, 1955). In 1964 Bigg (Nature, 203, 1008, (1964)) found that 1o exerted a profound effect on the radiation. The majority of the early theories to explain the origin of the decameter emissions, attributed the radiation to an emission process occurring at or near the electron gyrofrequency or the plasma frequency. Intro., p. 1. The majority of the early theories to explain the origin of the decameter emissions, attributed the radiation to an emission process occurring at or near the electron gyrofrequency or the plasma frequency (for a review see eg. Warwick, Space Sci. Rev. &" 841 (1967)). More recent work centred around the question of how 10 modulates the emission (see the article of Carr and Gulkis (Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics Vol 8 (1970)) for a detailed review).

The Rhodes/HartRAO SKYMAP survey is the highest frequency (2326 MHz) and highest resolution (20 arcmin) large-area pencil-beam survey of the celestial radio continuum emission. The survey covers 67 % of the entire sky and is one of only two radio continuum surveys that cover the southern sky. These attributes make the survey eminently suitable for studying the extended radio continuum emission from the Milky Way. This thesis describes the methodology used to produce the SKYMAP survey map and presents an analysis of the galactic radio continuum emission. Mountfort (1989, PhD thesis, Rhodes University) designed and implemented the original SKYMAP observing and data reduction procedures. These original procedures have been modified and extended to accommodate instrumentation upgrades at HartRAO and take advantage of new computer technologies that have become available. A new procedure was developed to perform the merging of the ten individual target-area maps into a self-consistent combined map without discontinuities at the component map boundaries. Calibration and data quality procedures were devised and implemented in order to validate the temperature scale and pointing accuracy of the map data. The uncertainty in the relative full-beam temperature scale is estimated to be 2 % and the RMS pixel noise is less than 30 mK. The uncertainty in the zero-level of the survey map is conservatively estimated to be 80 mK. The RMS pointing accuracy is better than 1.9 arcmin. The diffuse galactic background (DGB) emission is shown to be consistent with four-arm spiral models for the Milky Way. The Gould Belt system and the galactic warp beyond the solar-circle are seen as non-symmetrical distortions in the DGB. An empirical model of the DGB was subtracted from the 2326 MHz map data in order to accentuate faint, extended radio sources. A new technique was devised to discriminate between thermal and non-thermal radio continuum emission on the basis of FIR/radio flux ratios. This procedure was used to reduce the source confusion near the galactic plane. 42 new shell-like radio sources with angular diameters ranging from 1.6 deg to 26 deg are identified in the SKYMAP 2326 MHz map. These sources are probably large-diameter supernova remnants (SNRs) that partially redress the incompleteness in existing SNR catalogues caused by limited surface brightness selection effects. The shells of some of these faint, extended sources are incomplete towards high-latitudes. This morphology suggests that these objects are breaking out of the galactic disk and are releasing hot gas into the halo. There is no evidence for linear worm- and chimney-like features in the non-thermal galactic emission. The spectral index of the diffuse galactic emission is calculated to be beta = 2.72 +/- 0.18 between 408 MHz and 2326 MHz and beta = 2.95 +/- 0.08 between 2326 MHz and 31 GHz, confirming previous work showing that the synchrotron spectrum steepens with increasing frequency. The high frequency spectral index is used to estimate upper limits on the galactic synchrotron foreground contamination of cosmic microwave background radiation measurements. The high-latitude 2326 MHz galactic emission is shown to correlate weakly with the far-infrared galactic cirrus clouds. This correlation is due to thermal free-free radio emission from extended, low-density HII regions associated with the cirrus dust. The RMS level of this thermal signal is estimated to be 1 mK at 2326 MHz. Two further experiments that need to be performed in order to complete the SKYMAP project are discussed: (a) the region of sky near the southern equatorial pole (SEP) needs to be mapped at HartRAO to complete the coverage of the entire southern sky, and (b) independent horn telescope (broad-beam) measurements of the sky temperature are required in order to reduce the baseline uncertainties in the current SKYMAP data.

From introduction: Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Its distance from the Sun is five times that of the Earth and its mass is nearly two and a half times that of all the other planets added together. Jupiter turns about its own axis rather rapidly, once in just under ten hours, and it completes one revolution about the Sun in just under twelve years. Thus Earth has to pass almost directly between the Sun and Jupiter once every thirteen months. When this happens Jupiter is said to be in "opposition", as its position is then opposite to that of the Sun, when viewed from Earth. Around this time the planet will be most favourably placed for observations, as it is at its closest to Earth and up in the sky for a large part of the night. During the day observations on radio frequencies are more difficult, as the Sun is a source of great interference. Besides being an emitter of thermal electromagnetic radiation, as one would expect, Jupiter also emits two kinds of non-thermal radiation, one in the decimetre wavelength range and the other in the decametre wavelength range. A large number of scientists have worked on the problems of decimetre and decametre radiation. This thesis deals with some aspects of decametre radiation.

This thesis describes the results of an investigation of the physical properties of the Gum Nebula. For this investigation a radio continuum map of the region was made at 2326 MHz and resolution ⅓° with the HartRAO antenna. This map was used to generate spectral index images and an infrared to radio flux density ratio (IRR) image. The latter image shows that the IRR of the nebula is in the range 20 to 250, identifying it as an old SNR. Several spectral index images of this region were generated using two different methods, one based on the isolation of the nebula from its background radiation, the other based on TT-plots (Turtle et al., 1962). The two methods yield similar results, which show that the nebula has a thermal shell with a non-thermal region in its interior. Below the galactic plane the thermal region dominates and above the plane the nonthermal region. These results suggest a model of an old SNR with an H II region shell. Spectral line observations of hydrogen recombination lines and hydroxyl (OH) were made with the HartRAO and the Mopra telescopes. The detection of hydrogen recombination lines at four positions in the thermal regions of the nebula give electron temperatures and emission measures in the ranges 4000 to 6000 K and 220 to 460 pc.cm⁻⁶ respectively. The turbulent velocities are of the order of 20 km/s. A search for shocked OH lines at 1667 MHz and 1720 MHz in the Gum Nebula gave results that were negative, but numerous unshocked 1667 MHz OH lines were detected. The latter were used in a test for an expansion of the nebula. The most plausible fit to the data gives an expansion centre at l = 260.5°, b = -2.5° and at a distance of 0.7 kpc from us. The front face angular radius and expansion velocity are 10.5° and 16 km/s respectively. The back face angular radius and expansion velocity are 8.50 and 7 km/s respectively.

The work of previous writers on the origin and propagation of solar radio noise, and particularly the correlation with visual events is reviewed, and then the construction of the author's 300 Mc/s receiver described. With a view to the author's project, absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the solar corona is quantitatively discussed, and a method for determining the intensity without absorption of a radio burst is evolved. The main project involves briefly the discovery of any possible relationship between the magnitude of a visual flare and the corrected intensity of an associated radio burst as measured at 125 Mc/s. It is concluded that no definite relation exists, but from this consideration an approximate shape of the instantaneous frequency profile of outburst elements is obtained. An extension of the theory to isolated bursts enables us to predict both this bandshape, and the velocity of an exciting agency moving radially through the corona.

Thesis: Sc. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, 1961. / [1970]. / Cambridge, Mass. / 3 microfiches. / Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Microreproduction Laboratory, / "September 1961." Vita. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-138 ). / by Allan Carter Schell. / Sc. D.