Spectral Line Interferometry with Independent Time Standards at Stations Separated by 845 Kilometers

Abstract

An upper limit of 0.02 second of arc has been determined for a hydroxyl radical (OH) emission region associated with the radio source W3, with the use of a Michelson interferometer consisting of two radio telescopes 845 kilometers apart. Timing was provided at the stations by independent atomic frequency standards. The 1665-megahertz radiation was translated to video frequency and recorded digitally on magnetic tapes which were later processed by computer, yielding fringe phase and amplitude as a function of frequency over the received bandwidth.