Prospectus

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Radio Astronomy

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Leiden Astronomy bachelor’s courses Analyse 3NA (Fourier transforms) and Radiative Processes, knowledge of Linux/Unix and Python.

Description

In this course you learn critical aspects of radio astronomy, allowing you to relate radio observations to the astrophysical sources they probe. We thus deal with both the electromagnetic processes in the Universe that produce radio emission, as well as the workings of the telescopes that measure this radio emission.

The course consists of collaboration- and discussion sessions and the construction and use of a working radio telescope, leading up to writing and assessing observing proposals for our own "radio observatory of every radio telescope ever". The course covers the whole spectrum from Mega-Hertz to sub-millimeter radiation and from the cosmic dawn to galactic star formation, focusing on how to interpret data with different frequency- and spatial resolution.

In particular, the following aspects are covered:

  • Detection of radio waves, telescope and receiver characteristics

  • The mathematical principles underlying interferometers

  • Design and data flow characteristics of practical interferometers like LOFAR, VLBI, ALMA, SKA

  • Data processing techniques, such as image deconvolution, calibration, background subtraction

  • Astrophysics of Active Galactic Nuclei, radio properties of the interstellar medium, pulsars, masers.

  • Spectral line observation of molecules and HI throughout the universe

Course objectives

After this course, you are ready to engage in scientific discussions, proposals, and reviews that concern radio observations of astrophysical phenomena. You can compare how various radio telescopes and observing modes can be used to investigate the astrophysical processes that generate long wavelength emission.

In particular, you can:
1. Write a clear and concise observing proposal for an appropriate radio telescope to answer a scientific question;
2. Write a clear, concise report describing a radio-interferometric data reduction and subsequent data analysis;
3. Design and execute actual radio-astronomical experiments;
4. Develop a data reduction process from raw radio interferometric data to science-quality figures;
5. Analyse quantitatively how radio interferometric concepts affect a specific scientific result;
6. Describe (the function of) common components involved in a telescope’s signal processing;
7. Explain if and why certain radio data features are astrophysical or not;
8. Perform basic Fourier-analyses, such as deriving a SINC function and qualitatively predicting the telescope’s response to a small collection of elementary shapes;

Timetable

See Astronomy master schedule

In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.

Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.

Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.

Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.

Mode of instruction

  • Literature study

  • Group projects

  • System design

  • Practical experimentation

  • Written exercises

  • Data processing tutorials

  • Data analysis and scientific reporting

  • A field trip to ASTRON, JIVE, LOFAR, Westerbork and Dwingeloo

  • Peer-review

Assessment method

There will not be a traditional final exam. Instead, you are assessed based on various assignments. Deadlines:

  • 15%, Group report (up to 8 groups, chosen randomly by teachers). Galactic hydrogen detection experiment: instrument and experiment design (including expected results). Peer-assessed by "design review panel" composed of members of other teams. Teachers review and confirm grade & provide feedback.

  • 15%, Group report (same 8 groups as previous assignment): Analysis of actual observations of Galactic hydrogen with your own previously designed instrument. Peer-assessed by "scientific review panel" composed of members of other teams. Teachers review and confirm grade & provide feedback.

  • 15% ,** Group report** (groups randomly chosen by teachers): Radio interferometer design document, where each group is responsible for a particular aspect of the system design. Peer-assessed by "design review panel" composed of members of other teams. Teachers review and confirm grade & provide feedback.

  • 20% , Group report (groups randomly chosen by teachers): Interferometer data analysis report. Peer-assessed by "referee panel" composed of members of other teams. Teachers review and confirm grade & provide feedback.

  • 10%, Individual report. "Open questions in Radio Astronomy". Teachers review and grade.

  • 25%, Individual report. Observing proposal. Peer-assessed by "time allocation committee" composed of other students. Teachers review and confirm grade & provide feedback.

All assessments will be done using rubrics published on BrightSpace.

Reading list

Registration

As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.

In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.

There are two enrolment periods per year:

  • Enrolment for the fall opens in July

  • Enrolment for the spring opens in December

See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.

Note:

  • It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.

  • Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.

  • Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.

Contact

Lecturers: Dr. M.A. (Michiel) Brentjens and Dr. T.W. (Tim) Shimwell

Remarks

Soft skills
During this course, you will also learn about:

  • Assessing each other’s work

  • Giving effective feedback

  • Elementary systems engineering

  • Managing (Python) source code

  • Reproducible data analysis

  • Working as part of a large collaboration

  • Finding and reviewing relevant literature

  • Scientific writing

  • Proposal writing

  • Dealing with disappointments and setbacks in a relaxed, constructive way

Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.