VLBI观测双线极化条纹拟合方法

提出了一种可用于下一代VLBI观测系统(VGOS)的双线极化条纹拟合方法。现有的VLBI观测模式采用的是右圆极化(RCP),而VGOS系统采用的是双线极化。本文方法包括校正和组合条纹拟合两部分。校正部分选择一颗强源作为参考源,分别得到不同极化方式下的通道时延及相位校正数据,用于目标源的校正。组合条纹拟合部分将4种极化分量的可见度数据组合成伪Stokes分量,通过搜索差分星位角使伪Stokes分量的幅值达到最大,从而获得最终的时延观测量。与单极化条纹拟合相比,组合极化获得的条纹具有更高的信噪比(SNR)及更小的条纹相位弥散度。

A dual linear polarization fringe fitting method for VLBI observation

In this paper, we propose a dual linear polarization fringe fitting method which can be used in the next generation VLBI system (VLBI global observing system, VGOS). The legacy geodetic VLBI observation mode is dedicated to the right circular polarization (RCP), which differs from the dual linear polarization adopted in the VGOS system. The algorithm presented in this work consists of the calibration part and combined fringe fitting part. In the calibration part, we derive the intermediate frequency (IF) delay and phase calibration information from each polarization product by carrying out fringe fitting on a strong reference source. Then this information is applied to the target sources. In the combined fringe fitting part, we combine 4 polarization products into the Pseudo-Stokes Intensity and in the meanwhile search for the appropriate differential parallactic angle, so as to maximize the amplitude of the intensity and therefore derive the delay as observable. Compared with single polarization, the combined product yields higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and smaller fringe phase scatter.