NRAO/Socorro Colloquium Series

Ashley Zauderer

University of Maryland


High Resolution Imaging of ULIRGs with CARMA's Paired Antenna Calibration System for Phase Correction


Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) represent a population that is among the most extreme in our universe, emitting an extraordinary amount of energy at infrared wavelengths from dust heated by either prolific star formation and/or the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We have observed several nearby ULIRGs with CARMA in four configurations, including the longest baseline (up to 2 km) A-array configuration, which has a resolution of ~0.15’’ at 1.3 mm. We have utilized the Paired Antenna Calibration System (PACS) for atmospheric calibration in the longer baseline configurations. In this calibration system, Sunyaev-Zeldovich Array (SZA) antennas were paired with CARMA antennas to allow for a continuous measurement of the atmospheric phase screen on long baselines over time intervals from two seconds to several hours. We performed a variety of tests on bright quasars to confirm the PACS calibration methodology. We present these results along with our scientific results from observations of Arp 220 and other nearby ULIRGs.






October 30, 2009
11:00 am

Array Operations Center Auditorium

All NRAO employees are invited to attend via video, available in Charlottesville Room 230, Green Bank Basement and Tucson N525.

Local Host: Emmanuel Momjian