The First ATNF Astronomical Synthesis Workshop
VENUE: CSIRO Radiophysics Laboratory, Marsfield, Australia
DATES: 30th June – 3rd July 1989
The ATNF was host to an Astronomical Synthesis Workshop at the Radiophysics Laboratory during the period 30th June to 3rd July 1989. This was held in conjunction with the 1989 Harley Wood School of Astronomy, sponsored by the Astronomical Society of Australia. The organising committee consisted of R. Stewart, R. Ekers, R. Norris, and J. Whiteoak (all from ATNF}, R. Sramek (a visitor to ATNF from NRAO), and L. Cram (University of Sydney).
Talks, tutorials and demonstrations were attended by 118 people, including 46 students and 13 overseas visitors. The Workshop was modelled on the highly successful NRAO Synthesis Imaging Summer schools and many of the main speakers were overseas experts who had taken part in the US series: T. Cornwell, W. Cotton, P. Diamond, and R. Sramek (all from NRAO). Local speakers included ATNF scientists M. Calabretta, R. Ekers, M. Kesteven, R. Manchester, R. Norris, G.White and J. Whiteoak. The aim was to educate local astronomers, the potential users of the Australia Telescope, in the principles and techniques associated with the use of radio astronomy arrays.
The Workshop began with introductory talks on radio and optical interferometer techniques and then focussed on the concepts essential for image reconstruction (Fourier transforms, coherence functions, deconvolution etc.). Special techniques currently in use (Clean, Maximum Entropy, self-calibration, high dynamic-range Imaging) were discussed. Additional topics included astrometry, wide-field mapping, spectral-line imaging, VLBI, error recognition, and AT
observing strategies.
(Item reproduced from the 1989 ATNF Annual Report)
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