Millimeter and submillimeter wavelength radioastronomy

Abstract

The significance of radio astronomy at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths is described, and some of the more important results are given. The limitations imposed by the atmosphere are discussed, and the observation techniques used to overcome these limitations are outlined. The major new millimeter and submillimeter telescopes are described, and the techniques used to construct large-diameter, high-precision antennas are discussed. Methods of measuring the surface of a high-precision antenna are described with particular emphasis on microwave holography. The current state of the high-sensitivity receiving systems for these wavelengths is outlined with emphasis on recent work in superconducting devices and multibeam receivers. A brief description of astronomical millimeter-wave interferometers is given, and the recent progress made in the application of very-long-baseline interferometry techniques at millimeter wavelengths is described.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>