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A new method for improving the interferometric resolution by compensating for the atmospherically induced phase shift
Author(s) -
Zivanovic S. S.,
Forster J. R.,
Welch W. J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/95rs00829
Subject(s) - interferometry , atmosphere (unit) , compensation (psychology) , astronomical interferometer , phase (matter) , environmental science , remote sensing , physics , meteorology , optics , geology , psychology , quantum mechanics , psychoanalysis
Electromagnetic waves traveling through the atmosphere experience an added phase shift due to the presence of various gases. Since the water vapor distribution in the atmosphere has a significant spatial and temporal variance, the corresponding phase shift can cause a serious degradation of the maps produced by radio interferometers. This study presents the calculation of the atmospherically induced phase shift in terms of ground based measurements and introduces a new technique to compensate for it. The compensation technique is implemented on the Berkeley‐Maryland‐Illinois Array at Hat Creek, California, and various tests are performed to demonstrate the accuracy of the technique. Finally, some future work is suggested.