February 2, 2016 Time: 09:21am prelims.

tex

© Copyright, Princeton University Press. No part of this book may be

distributed, posted, or reproduced in any form by digital or mechanical
means without prior written permission of the publisher.

Contents

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

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February 2, 2016 Time: 09:21am prelims.tex

© Copyright, Princeton University Press. No part of this book may be

distributed, posted, or reproduced in any form by digital or mechanical
means without prior written permission of the publisher.

vi • Contents

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

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February 2, 2016 Time: 09:21am prelims.tex

© Copyright, Princeton University Press. No part of this book may be

distributed, posted, or reproduced in any form by digital or mechanical
means without prior written permission of the publisher.

Contents • vii

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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