The synthesis radio telescope at Westerbork

Abstract

The synthesis radio telescope (SRT) is an array of 20 simultaneous interferometers formed by 10 fixed and 2 movable antennas on an E-W baseline of 1600 m, operating on the principle of rotational aperture synthesis. It is capable of observing continuum radiation in 4 Stokes parameters and line radiation at 50-, 21-, and 6-cm wavelengths. This paper centers on a description of the electronic system with emphasis on those features by which its exceptional stability has been realized. Included are sections on the mechanical construction and adjustments, the data processing, and some examples of astronomical results.