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Home Built Radio Interferometer

-- Stephen | May 11, 2023

Question:

I was interested in the subject of generating an image from radio telescope data and read the page about how you guys are able to do that.

Could I construct a simple array of radio telescopes and use them to generate a simple image? Perhaps the resolution would be akin to a simple optical telescope.

I still need to learn the math/physics behind how radio telescopes operate (I know basic college physics) but saw some of the factors that determine how good the image is.

From what I read on this page you need a minimum of two radio telescopes to generate an image. I’d like to use more than two (maybe 4 because powers of two). I don’t think I’d be able to get diameters and distances as big as you facility.

Could you give me any resources about what math/physics is necessary to generate an image from radio telescopes please?

My main concerns are that my distances and sizes aren’t big enough to generate a useful image. Another concern is that I don’t have access to a computer that is fast enough to process all the signals from the telescopes.

To start I will build a single radio telescope and try listening to signals with that. If your facility is in West Virginia I believe I visited there as a kid and it was really cool. My dad went to a science camp that is nearby.

Thank you,
Stephen

-- Stephen

Answer:

Yes, one can build a rudimentary radio interferometer with at least two antennas at home. You can see a description of an example of such an interferometer on the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers web site. As for the mathematics behind radio interferometry, there is a nice presentation on the subject from the Parkes Radio Summer School. This article actually provides a very complete description of how interferometry works.

-- Jeff Mangum

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