arXiv subjects

L. Petrov

Publications and source records attributed to L. Petrov.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

The VLBA Galactic Plane Survey -- VGaPS

This paper presents accurate absolute positions from a 24 GHz Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) search for compact extragalactic sources in an area where the density of known calibrators with precise coordinates is low. The goals were to identify additional sources suitable for use as phase calibrators for galactic sources, determine their precise positions, and produce radio images. In order to achieve these goals, we developed a new software package, PIMA, for determining group delays from wide-band data with much lower detection limit. With the use of PIMA we have detected 327 sources out of 487 targets observed in three 24 hour VLBA experiments. Among the 327 detected objects, 176 are within 10 degrees of the Galactic plane. This VGaPS catalogue of source positions, plots of correlated flux density versus projected baseline length, contour plots, as well as weighted CLEAN images and calibrated visibility data in FITS format, are available on the Web at http://astrogeo.org/vgaps. Approximately one half of objects from the 24 GHz catalogue were observed at dual band 8.6 GHz and 2.3 GHz experiments. Position differences at 24 GHz versus 8.6/2.3 GHz for all but two objects on average are strictly within reported uncertainties. We found that for two objects with complex structure positions at different frequencies correspond to different components of a source.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

The Sixth VLBA Calibrator Survey: VCS6

This paper presents the sixth part to the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) Calibrator Survey. It contains the positions and maps of 264 sources of which 169 were not previously observed with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). This survey, based on two 24 hour VLBA observing sessions, was focused on 1) improving positions of 95 sources from previous VLBA Calibrator surveys that were observed either with very large a priori position errors or were observed not long enough to get reliable positions and 2) observing remaining new flat-spectrum sources with predicted correlated flux density in the range 100-200 mJy that were not observed in previous surveys. Source positions were derived from astrometric analysis of group delays determined at the 2.3 and 8.6 GHz frequency bands using the Calc/Solve software package. The VCS6 catalogue of source positions, plots of correlated flux density versus projected baseline length, contour plots and fits files of naturally weighted CLEAN images, as well as calibrated visibility function files are available on the Web at http://vlbi.gsfc.nasa.gov/vcs6

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The empirical Earth rotation model from VLBI observations

AIMS: An alternative to the traditional method for modeling kinematics of the Earth's rotation is proposed. The purpose of developing the new approach is to provide a self-consistent and simple description of the Earth's rotation in a way that can be estimated directly from observations without using intermediate quantities. METHODS: Instead of estimating the time series of pole coordinates, the UT1--TAI angles, their rates, and the daily offsets of nutation, it is proposed to estimate coefficients of the expansion of a small perturbational rotation vector into basis functions. The resulting transformation from the terrestrial coordinate system to the celestial coordinate system is formulated as a product of an a priori matrix of a finite rotation and an empirical vector of a residual perturbational rotation. In the framework of this approach, the specific choice of the a priori matrix is irrelevant, provided the angles of the residual rotation are small enough to neglect their squares. The coefficients of the expansion into the B-spline and Fourier bases, together with estimates of other nuisance parameters, are evaluated directly from observations of time delay or time range in a single least square solution. RESULTS: This approach was successfully implemented in a computer program for processing VLBI observations. The dataset from 1984 through 2006 was analyzed. The new procedure adequately represents the Earth's rotation, including slowly varying changes in UT1--TAI and polar motion, the forced nutations, the free core nutation, and the high frequency variations of polar motion and UT1.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Saturation effects in the sub-Doppler spectroscopy of Cesium vapor confined in an Extremely Thin Cell

Saturation effects affecting absorption and fluorescence spectra of an atomic vapor confined in an Extremely Thin Cell (cell thickness $L < 1 μm$) are investigated experimentally and theoretically. The study is performed on the $D_{2}$ line ($λ~= ~852 nm)$ of $Cs$ and concentrates on the two situations $L = λ/2$ and $L =λ$, the most contrasted ones with respect to the length dependence of the coherent Dicke narrowing. For $L = λ/2$, the Dicke-narrowed absorption profile simply broadens and saturates in amplitude when increasing the light intensity, while for $L =λ$, sub-Doppler dips of reduced absorption at line-center appear on the broad absorption profile. For a fluorescence detection at $L =λ$, saturation induces narrow dips, but only for hyperfine components undergoing a population loss through optical pumping. These experimental results are interpreted with the help of the various existing models, and are compared with numerical calculations based upon a two-level modelling that considers both a closed and an open system.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2007

Ground-state magneto-optical resonances in Cesium vapour confined in an extremely thin cell

Experimental and theoretical studies are presented related to the ground-state magneto-optical resonance prepared in Cesium vapour confined in an Extremely Thin Cell (ETC, with thickness equal to the wavelength of the irradiating light). It is shown that the utilization of the ETC allows one to examine the formation of a magneto-optical resonance on the individual hyperfine transitions, thus distinguishing processes resulting in dark (reduced absorption) or bright (enhanced absorption) resonance formation. We report on an experimental evidence of the bright magneto-optical resonance sign reversal in Cs atoms confined in the ETC. A theoretical model is proposed based on the optical Bloch equations that involves the elastic interaction processes of atoms in the ETC with its walls resulting in depolarization of the Cs excited state which is polarized by the exciting radiation. This depolarization leads to the sign reversal of the bright resonance. Using the proposed model, the magneto-optical resonance amplitude and width as a function of laser power are calculated and compared with the experimental ones. The numerical results are in good agreement with the experiment.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

Empirical Earth rotation model: a consistent way to evaluate Earth orientation parameters

It is customary to perform analysis of the Earth's rotation in two steps: first, to present results of estimation of the Earth orientation parameters in the form of time series based on a simplified model of variations of the Earth's rotation for a short period of time, and then to process this time series of adjustments by applying smoothing, re-sampling and other numerical algorithms. Although this approach saves computational time, it suffers from self-inconsistency: total Earth orientation parameters depend on a subjective choice of the apriori Earth orientation model, cross-correlations between points of time series are lost, and results of an operational analysis per se have a limited use for end users. An alternative approach of direct estimation of the coefficients of expansion of Euler angle perturbations into basis functions is developed. These coefficients describe the Earth's rotation over entire period of observations and are evaluated simultaneously with station positions, source coordinates and other parameters in a single LSQ solution. In the framework of this approach considerably larger errors in apriori EOP model are tolerated. This approach gives a significant conceptual simplification of representation of the Earth's rotation.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The Fifth VLBA Calibrator Survey: VCS5

This paper presents the fifth part of the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) Calibrator Survey (VCS), containing 569 sources not observed previously with very long baseline interferometry in geodetic or absolute astrometry programs. This campaign has two goals: (i) to observe additional sources which, together with previous survey results, form a complete sample, (ii) to find new strong sources suitable as phase calibrators. This VCS extension was based on three 24-hour VLBA observing sessions in 2005. It detected almost all extragalactic flat-spectrum sources with correlated flux density greater than 200 mJy at 8.6 GHz above declination -30 degrees which were not observed previously. Source positions with milliarcsecond accuracy were derived from astrometric analysis of ionosphere-free combinations of group delays determined from the 2.3 GHz and 8.6 GHz frequency bands. The VCS5 catalog of source positions, plots of correlated flux density versus projected baseline length, contour plots and FITS files of naturally weighted CLEAN images, as well as calibrated visibility function files are available on the Web at http://vlbi.gsfc.nasa.gov/vcs5

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

VERA 22 GHz fringe search survey

This paper presents results of a survey search for bright compact radio sources at 22 GHz with the VERA radio-interferometer. Each source from a list of 2494 objects was observed in one scan for 2 minutes. The purpose of this survey was to find compact extragalactic sources bright enough at 22 GHz to be useful as phase calibrators. Observed sources were either a) within 6 degrees of the Galactic plane, or b) within 11 degrees from the Galactic center; or c) within 2 degrees from known water masers. Among the observed sources, 549 were detected, including 180 extragalactic objects which were not previously observed with the very long baseline interferometry technique. Estimates of the correlated flux densities of the detected sources are presented.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

The Fourth VLBA Calibrator Survey - VCS4

This paper presents the fourth extension to the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) Calibrator Survey, containing 258 new sources not previously observed with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). This survey, based on three 24 hour VLBA observing sessions, fills remaining areas on the sky above declination -40 degrees where the calibrator density is less than one source within a 4 degree radius disk at any given direction. The share of these area was reduced from 4.6% to 1.9%. Source positions were derived from astrometric analysis of group delays determined at 2.3 and 8.6 GHz frequency bands using the Calc/Solve software package. The VCS4 catalogue of source positions, plots of correlated flux density versus projected baseline length, contour plots and fits files of naturally weighted CLEAN images, as well as calibrated visibility function files are available on the Web at http://gemini.gsfc.nasa.gov/vcs4 .

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

The Third VLBA Calibrator Survey

This paper presents the third extension to the Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA) Calibrator Survey, containing 360 new sources not previously observed with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). The survey, based on three 24 hour VLBA observing sessions, fills the areas on the sky above declination -45 degrees where the calibrator density is less than one source within a 4 degrees radius disk at any given direction. The positions were derived from astrometric analysis of the group delays determined at 2.3 and 8.6 GHz frequency bands using the Calc/Solve software package. The VCS3 catalogue of source positions, plots of correlated flux density versus the length of projected baseline, contour plots and fits files of naturally weighted CLEAN images as well as calibrated visibility function files are available on the Web at http://gemini.gsfc.nasa.gov/vcs3

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Atmospheric pressure loading for routine data analysis

We have computed 3-D displacements induced by atmospheric pressure loading from 6-hourly surface pressure field from NCEP (National Center for Environmental Predictions) Reanalysis data for all Very Long Baseline Interferometry) and SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) stations. We have quantitatively estimated the error budget our time series of pressure loading and found that the errors are below 15%. We validated our loading series by comparing them with a dataset of 3.5 million VLBI observations for the period of 1980--2003. We have shown that the amount of power which is present in the loading time series, but does not present in the VLBI data is, on average, only 5%. We have also succeeded, for the first time, to detect horizontal displacements caused by atmospheric loading. The correction of atmospheric loading in VLBI data allows a significant reduction of baseline repeatability, except for the annual component.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2004

Using a Numerical Weather Model to Improve Geodesy

The use of a Numerical Weather Model (NWM) to provide in situ atmosphere information for mapping functions of atmosphere delay has been evaluated using Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) data spanning eleven years. Parameters required by the IMF mapping functions (Niell 2000, 2001) have been calculated from the NWM of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and incorporated in the CALC/SOLVE VLBI data analysis program. Compared with the use of the NMF mapping functions (Niell 1996) the application of IMF for global solutions demonstrates that the hydrostatic mapping function, IMFh, provides both significant improvement in baseline length repeatability and noticeable reduction in the amplitude of the residual harmonic site position variations at semidiurnal to long-period bands. For baseline length repeatability the reduction in the observed mean square deviations achieves 80 of the maximum that is expected for the change from NMF to IMF. On the other hand, the use of the wet mapping function, IMFw, as implemented using the NCEP data, results in a slight degradation of baseline length repeatability, probably due to the large grid spacing of the NWM that is used.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2002

The VLBA Calibrator Survey - VCS1

A catalog containing milliarcsecond--accurate positions of 1332 extragalactic radio sources distributed over the northern sky is presented - the Very Long Baseline Array Calibrator Survey (VCS1). The positions have been derived from astrometric analysis of dual-frequency 2.3 and 8.4 GHz VLBA snapshot observations; in a majority of cases, images of the sources are also available. These radio sources are suitable for use in geodetic and astrometric experiments, and as phase-reference calibrators in high-sensitivity astronomical imaging. The VCS1 is the largest high-resolution radio survey ever undertaken, and triples the number of sources available to the radio astronomy community for VLBI applications. In addition to the astrometric role, this survey can be used in active galactic nuclei, Galactic, gravitational lens and cosmological studies. The VCS1 catalog will soon be available at www.nrao.edu/vlba/VCS1 .

astro-ph↗