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High resolution rapid response observations of compact radio sources with the Ceduna Hobart Interferometer (CHI)
Citation
Blanchard, JM and Lovell, JEJ and Ojha, R and Kadler, M and Dickey, JM and Edwards, PG, High resolution rapid response observations of compact radio sources with the Ceduna Hobart Interferometer (CHI), Astronomy & Astrophysics, 538 Article A150. ISSN 0004-6361 (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 ESO
DOI: doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201117593
Abstract
Context: Frequent, simultaneous observations across the electromagnetic spectrum are essential to the study of a range of astrophysical phenomena including active galactic nuclei. A key tool of such studies is the ability to observe an object when it flares i.e. exhibits a rapid and significant increase in its flux density.
Aims: We describe the specific observational procedures and the calibration techniques that have been developed and tested to create a single baseline radio interferometer that can rapidly observe a flaring object. This is the only facility that is dedicated to rapid high resolution radio observations of an object south of −30 degrees declination. An immediate application is to provide rapid contemporaneous radio coverage of AGN flaring at γ-ray frequencies detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.
Methods: A single baseline interferometer, the Ceduna Hobart Interferometer (CHI), was formed with radio telescopes in Hobart, Tasmania and Ceduna, South Australia. A software correlator was set up at the University of Tasmania to correlate these data.
Results: Measurements of the flux densities of flaring objects can be made using our observing strategy within half an hour of a triggering event. These observations can be calibrated with amplitude errors better than 15%. Lower limits to the brightness temperatures of the sources can also be calculated using CHI.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | instrumentation: interferometers; galaxies: jets; quasars: general; galaxies: active; galaxies: nuclei; gamma rays: galaxies |
Research Division: | Physical Sciences |
Research Group: | Astronomical sciences |
Research Field: | Astronomical sciences not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences |
UTAS Author: | Blanchard, JM (Mr Jay Blanchard) |
UTAS Author: | Lovell, JEJ (Dr Jim Lovell) |
UTAS Author: | Dickey, JM (Professor John Dickey) |
ID Code: | 78627 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 3 |
Deposited By: | Mathematics and Physics |
Deposited On: | 2012-07-10 |
Last Modified: | 2018-03-28 |
Downloads: | 66 View Download Statistics |
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