Calibration of the instrumental polarization of radio telescopes.
Abstract
An intuitively simple, convenient, and accurate calibration procedure for determining the instrumental polarization characteristics of radio telescopes is presented. The basic formulas of the procedure are given, and the layout of the receiving system is shown. The main considerations determining the layout are outlined, and the observations procedure is described. A significant advantage of the method is that measurements can be reduced easily and in a short time and that the derived Mueller matrix can be used as a convenient tool to monitor the overall system performance.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- January 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985A&A...142..181T
- Keywords:
-
- Calibrating;
- Polarimeters;
- Polarization Characteristics;
- Radio Telescopes;
- Accuracy;
- Correlators;
- Data Reduction;
- Instrument Compensation;
- Matrices (Mathematics);
- Performance Tests;
- Radio Receivers;
- Astronomy