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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS2005

Structure in the radio counterpart to SGR 1806-20

On Dec 27, 2004, the magnetar SGR 1806-20 underwent an enormous outburst which has resulted in the formation of an expanding, moving, radio source. We report observations of this radio source with the Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). The observations confirm the elongation and expansion already reported based on observations at lower angular resolutions, but suggest that at early epochs the structure is not consistent with the very simplest models such as Gaussian flux distributions. In particular there appears to be significant non-Gaussian structure on small angular scales, which may correspond to localised sites of particle acceleration during the early phases of expansion and interaction with the ambient medium.

Fender, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Space VLBI observations of 3C 279 at 1.6 and 5 GHz

We present VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP) observations of the gamma-ray blazar 3C 279 at 1.6 and 5 GHz made on 1998 January 9-10 with the HALCA satellite and ground arrays including the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA).

Extragalactic radio-sources baseline interferometr↗
NASA NTRS2011

The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope

This slide presentation reviews the Gamma Ray Astronomy as enhanced by the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope and Radio Astronomy as a synergistic relationship. Gamma rays often represent a significant part of the energy budget of a source; therefore, gamma-ray studies can be critical to understanding physical processes in such sources. Radio observations offer timing and spatial resolutions vastly superior to anything possible with gamma-ray telescopes; therefore radio is often the key to understanding source structure. Gamma-ray and radio observations can complement each other, making a great team. It reviews the Fermi Guest Investigator (GI) program, and calls for more cooperative work that involves Fermi and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), a system of ten radio telescopes.

Thompson, Dave↗
NASA NTRS2013

U.S. Naval Observatory VLBI Analysis Center

This report summarizes the activities of the VLBI Analysis Center at the United States Naval Observatory for the 2012 calendar year. Over the course of the year, Analysis Center personnel continued analysis and timely submission of IVS-R4 databases for distribution to the IVS. During the 2012 calendar year, the USNO VLBI Analysis Center produced two VLBI global solutions designated as usn2012a and usn2012b. Earth orientation parameters (EOP) based on this solution and updated by the latest diurnal (IVS-R1 and IVS-R4) experiments were routinely submitted to the IVS. Sinex files based upon the bi-weekly 24-hour experiments were also submitted to the IVS. During the 2012 calendar year, Analysis Center personnel continued a program to use the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) operated by the NRAO for the purpose of measuring UT1-UTC. Routine daily 1-hour duration Intensive observations were initiated using the VLBA antennas at Pie Town, NM and Mauna Kea, HI. High-speed network connections to these two antennas are now routinely used for electronic transfer of VLBI data over the Internet to a USNO point of presence. A total of 270 VLBA Intensive experiments were observed and electronically transferred to and processed at USNO in 2012.

Boboltz, David A.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Microarcsecond VLBI Pulsar Astrometry with PSRπ II. Parallax Distances for 57 Pulsars

We present the results of PSRπ, a large astrometric project targeting radio pulsars using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). From our astrometric database of 60 pulsars, we have obtained parallax-based distance measurements for all but 3, with a parallax precision that is typically ∼45 μas and approaches 10 μas in the best cases. Our full sample doubles the number of radio pulsars with a reliable (≳5σ) model-independent distance constraint. Importantly, many of the newly measured pulsars are well outside the solar neighborhood, and so PSRπ brings a near-tenfold increase in the number of pulsars with a reliable model-independent distance at d > 2 kpc. Our results show that both widely used Galactic electron density distribution models contain significant shortcomings, particularly at high Galactic latitudes. When comparing our results to pulsar timing, two of the four millisecond pulsars in our sample exhibit significant discrepancies in their proper motion estimates. With additional VLBI observations that extend our sample and improve the absolute positional accuracy of our reference sources, we will be able to additionally compare pulsar absolute reference positions between VLBI and timing, which will provide a much more sensitive test of the correctness of the solar system ephemerides used for pulsar timing. Finally, we use our large sample to estimate the typical accuracy attainable for differential VLBA astrometry of pulsars, showing that for sufficiently bright targets observed eight times over 18 months, a parallax uncertainty of 4 μas per arcminute of separation between the pulsar and calibrator can be expected.

A. T. Deller↗
NASA NTRS2002

Structure Corrections in Modeling VLBI Delays for RDV Data

Since 1997, bimonthly S- and X-band observing sessions have been carried out employing the VLBA (Very Long Baseline Array) and as many as ten additional antennas. Maps of the extended structures have been generated for the 160 sources observed in ten of these experiments (approximately 200,000 observations) taking place during 1997 and 1998. This paper reports the results of the first massive application of such structure maps to correct the modeled VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) delay in astrometric data analysis. For high-accuracy celestial reference frame work, proper choice of a reference point within each extended source is crucial. Here the reference point is taken at the point of maximum emitted flux. Overall, the weighted delay residuals (approximately equal to 30 ps) are reduced by 8 ps in quadrature upon introducing source maps to model the structure delays of the sources. Residuals of some sources with extended or fast-varying structures improve by as much as 40 ps. Scatter of 'arc positions' about a time-linear model decreases substantially for most sources. Based on our results, it is also concluded that source structure is presently not the dominant error source in astrometric/geodetic VLBI.

Sovers, Ojars J.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Use of Very Long Baseline Array Interferometric Data for Spacecraft Navigation

The main VLBI technique that is used at JPL is known as the Delta Differential One-way Ranging ((Delta)DOR). Two DSN antennas simultaneously track a source, and alternate between sources. The signals recorded at the antennas from each source are correlated to obtain the delay in arrival to the two antennas, and the delays are differenced to remove common-source errors. An alternative technique is to use carrier phase differences between antennas. This is routinely done by the Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA) as part of source imaging. The VLBA capabilities are used for scientific research, but also have the potential to be used for navigation. Two main experiments were performed with the VLBA and JPL spacecraft. This paper describes and analyzes these experiments and discusses the possible uses of VLBA tracking for spacecraft navigation.

Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA)↗
NASA NTRS2011

Precise Absolute Astrometry from the VLBA Imaging and Polarimetry Survey at 5 GHz

We present accurate positions for 857 sources derived from the astrometric analysis of 16 eleven-hour experiments from the Very Long Baseline Array imaging and polarimetry survey at 5 GHz (VIPS). Among the observed sources, positions of 430 objects were not previously determined at milliarcsecond-level accuracy. For 95% of the sources the uncertainty of their positions ranges from 0.3 to 0.9 mas, with a median value of 0.5 mas. This estimate of accuracy is substantiated by the comparison of positions of 386 sources that were previously observed in astrometric programs simultaneously at 2.3/8.6 GHz. Surprisingly, the ionosphere contribution to group delay was adequately modeled with the use of the total electron content maps derived from GPS observations and only marginally affected estimates of source coordinates.

Petrov, L.↗
NASA NTRS2020

The Wide-field VLBA Calibrator Survey: WFCS

This paper presents the results of the largest very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) absolute astrometry campaign to date of 13,645 radio source observations with the Very Long Baseline Array. Of these, 7220 have been detected, including 6755 target sources that have never been observed with VLBI before. This makes the present VLBI catalog the largest ever published. The positions of the target sources have been determined with the median uncertainty of 1.7 mas, and 15,542 images of 7171 sources have been generated. Unlike previous absolute radio astrometry campaigns, observations were made at 4.3 and 7.6 GHz simultaneously using a single wide-band receiver. Because of the fine spectral and time resolutions, the field of view was 4'–8'—much greater than the 10''–20'' in previous surveys. This made possible the use of input catalogs with low position accuracy and the detection of a compact component in extended sources. Unlike previous absolute astrometry campaigns, both steep- and flat-spectrum sources were observed. The observations were scheduled in the so-called filler mode to fill the gaps between other high-priority programs. This was achieved by the development of the totally automatic scheduling procedure.

Leonid Petrov↗
NASA NTRS1995

Observations of the solar wind speed near the sun

Two-antenna scintillation (IPS) observations can provide accurate measurements of the velocity with which electron density fluctuations drift past the line of sight. We will present recent IPS measurements made with the EISCAT and VLBA arrays. It is common, particularly during declining activity. for the line of sight to pass through plasma with a wide range of speed. Therefore it is important to account for the line of sight integration. It is clear from ULYSSES measurements that the speed is bimodal in nature, i.e., either 'fast' or 'slow.' Thus it is not necessary to model a continuous velocity distribution - one need only locate the 'fast-slow' interface. In addition one must consider the possibility that the density fluctuations are moving with respect to the flow of particles. Alfven waves propagating through field-aligned density fluctuations can mimic a sound wave in this respect, so the apparent IPS velocity can be the flow speed plus the Alfven speed. In modeling the IPS it is important that the scattering be 'weak,' because the weak scattering model requires only 1 spatial parameter instead of 3. Furthermore the effect of multiple velocities in much more distinct in weak scattering. EISCAT can only operate near 933 MHz, which limits the observations to outside of 17R(solar mass). The VLBA is the only facility with the combination of high frequency operation and long baselines required to observe inside of 15R(solar mass). A simple bimodal model has been successfully used to interpret our IPS observations near the sun. Farther out interaction regions have built up significantly and a two speed model is no longer valid. An apparent deceleration in the fast polar wind is sometimes evident when compared to the ULYSSES observation. The density variance delta N(exp 2)e in the fast wind appears to decrease from equator to pole.

Grall, R. R.↗