Scintillation and Apparent Angular Diameter

Abstract

Angular scattering, intensity scintillations, and apparent diameter are discussed in the context of arbitrary irregularity structure. The intrinsic diameter of a source can always be measured with an interferometer in the presence of arbitrarily strong scattering unless all three of the following conditions apply: (1) intrinsic diameter is less than scattering angle, (2) the source displays weak or no intensity scintillations, (3) a point source shows strong intensity scintillations. If these conditions do apply, the apparent diameter is the scattering angle. Subject headings: interplanetary medium - radiative transfer