Essential Radio Astronomy

Essential Radio Astronomy is the only textbook on the subject specifically designed for a one-semester introductory course for advanced undergraduates or graduate students in astronomy and astrophysics. It starts from first principles in order to fill gaps in students' backgrounds, make teaching easier for professors who are not expert radio astronomers, and provide a useful reference to the essential equations used by practitioners. This unique textbook reflects the fact that students of multiwavelength astronomy typically can afford to spend only one semester studying the observational techniques particular to each wavelength band. Essential Radio Astronomy presents only the most crucial concepts—succinctly and accessibly. It covers the general principles behind radio telescopes, receivers, and digital backends without getting bogged down in engineering details. Emphasizing the physical processes in radio sources, the book's approach is shaped by the view that radio astrophysics owes more to thermodynamics than electromagnetism. Proven in the classroom and generously illustrated throughout, Essential Radio Astronomy is an invaluable resource for students and researchers alike. The only textbook specifically designed for a one-semester course in radio astronomy Starts from first principles Makes teaching easier for astronomy professors who are not expert radio astronomers Emphasizes the physical processes in radio sources Covers the principles behind radio telescopes and receivers Provides the essential equations and fundamental constants used by practitioners Supplementary website includes lecture notes, problem sets, exams, and links to interactive demonstrations An online illustration package is available to professors James J. Condon and Scott M. Ransom are astronomers at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and research professors of astronomy at the University of Virginia.

Preface ix 1 Introduction 1 1.1 An Introduction to Radio Astronomy 1 1.2 The Discovery of Cosmic Radio Noise 9 1.3 A Tour of the Radio Universe 15 2 Radiation Fundamentals 23 2.1 Brightness and Flux Density 23 2.2 Radiative Transfer 30 2.3 Polarization 40 2.4 Blackbody Radiation 42 2.5 Noise Generated by a Warm Resistor 50 2.6 Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation 53 2.7 Radiation from an Accelerated Charge 58 2.8 Dust Emission at Radio Wavelengths 61 3 Radio Telescopes and Radiometers 64 3.1 Antenna Fundamentals 64 3.2 Reflector Antennas 80 3.3 Two-Dimensional Aperture Antennas 92 3.4 Waveguides 100 3.5 Radio Telescopes 102 3.6 Radiometers 112 3.7 Interferometers 126 4 Free-Free Radiation 141 4.1 Thermal and Nonthermal Emission 141 4.2 HII Regions 141 4.3 Free–Free Radio Emission from HII Regions 146 5 Synchrotron Radiation 160 5.1 Magnetobremsstrahlung 160 5.2 Synchrotron Power 163 5.3 Synchrotron Spectra 167 5.4 Synchrotron Sources 178 5.5 Inverse-Compton Scattering 188 5.6 Extragalactic Radio Sources 194 6 Pulsars 208 6.1 Pulsar Properties 208 6.2 Pulsars and the Interstellar Medium 222 6.3 Pulsar Timing 225 7 Spectral Lines 233 7.1 Introduction 233 7.2 Recombination Lines 234 7.3 Line Radiative Transfer 242 7.4 Excitation Temperature 247 7.5 Masers 249 7.6 Recombination Line Sources 252 7.7 Molecular Line Spectra 255 7.8 The HI 21-cm Line 266 A Fourier Transforms 277 A.1 The Fourier Transform 277 A.2 The Discrete Fourier Transform 278 A.3 The Sampling Theorem 280 A.4 The Power Spectrum 282 A.5 Basic Transforms 282 A.6 Basic Fourier Theorems 282 A.7 Convolution and Cross-Correlation 284 A.8 Other Fourier Transform Links 286 B Mathematical Derivations 287 B.1 Evaluation of Planck’s Sum 287 B.2 Derivation of the Stefan–Boltzmann Law 288 B.3 Complex Exponentials 291 B.4 The Fourier Transform of a Gaussian 293 B.5 The Gaussian Probability Distribution and Noise Voltage 294 B.6 The Probability Distribution of Noise Power 295 B.7 Evaluation of the Free–Free Pulse Energy Integral 296 B.8 The Nonrelativistic Maxwellian Speed Distribution 297 C Special Relativity 299 C.1 Relativity 299 C.2 Time Dilation and Length Contraction 302 C.3 Velocity Addition Formulas 302 C.4 Mass, Energy, and Power 303 D Wave Propagation in a Plasma 305 D.1 Dispersion and Reflection in a Low-Density Plasma 305 D.2 Faraday Rotation in a Magnetized Plasma 307 E Essential Equations 309 F Constants, Units, and Dimensions 332 F.1 Physical Constants 332 F.2 Astronomical Constants 332 F.3 MKS (SI) and Gaussian CGS Units 333 F.4 Other Constants and Units 336 F.5 Radar and Waveguide Frequency Bands 336 F.6 Dimensional Analysis 337 G Symbols and Abbreviations 338 G.1 Greek Symbols 338 G.2 Other Symbols and Abbreviations 340 H References and Links 348 H.1 Reference Books 348 H.2 Links 349 Bibliography 351 Index 357

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