Class Purpose

Astronomy is an observational science -- few experiments are possible, and theory serves more to explain than to predict new phenomena.   As a result, it is important for everyone involved in gathering and interpreting data to understand something about the instruments which filter our view of the Universe.  In this course, we cover the basic principles of instrumentation and the associated techniques involved in recovering data from distant objects. We will discuss physical limits on ideal instruments and some of the real imperfections that can lead to real systematic effects.  The goal of this course is to understand instrumentation as a coherent whole, differing only in details from one part of the spectrum to another.  We will draw heavily on examples from the radio through optical wavelengths to illustrate the basic principles of instrumentation, but we will also discuss other parts of the spectrum (UV, X-ray, and gamma-ray) to show how technical details differ in these regions.  This course also includes a review of basic statistics applied to signal and data analysis.

Class Meetings

The class meets in room 0201 of the Computer & Space Sciences Building from on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00-3:15.   Because of some travel commitments, a few individual classes will be scheduled to other mutually agreeable times.  Classes will consist primarily of intensive lectures and, I hope, equally intensive questions and discussions as we move through the course material.

Office Hours

Questions about lecture and problem sets or other topics are strongly encouraged.  Given everyone's varied schedules, we will do this by appointment or by random encounter.  Please come ask questions early as they emerge.  The hour or two before class on the days problem sets are due seem to be popular times for questions, but are difficult for me as I prepare for the lecture.  My email, phone, and office number are at the top of this page.

Grading 

There will be regular (approximately biweekly) homework assignments that will count for 40% of the course grade.  You should anticipate spending a considerable amount of time on the problem set assignments -- this is, of course, where you will learn the most.   A number of the homework assignments involve computer programming.  As part of the coursework, I require use of a higher-level language such as Phython, MATLAB, IDL, or R because of their extensive data manipulation and display capabilities.  There will be two exams:  a mid-term exam which counts for 25% of the course grade and a final exam that counts for 35%.  Both examinations count as Major Grading Events as defined by the university.  A good number of the problems on these exams will be in the format of the Qualifying Examination for the Department of Astronomy.  As is usual for graduate classes, I expect that most students will receive an A or B.

Since we are not following a textbook for this class, attendance and careful note taking is essential.  If you must miss a class, please arrange to get notes from one of your classmates and plan to come talk with me about points you find unclear.  If you know you will be away for university-related travel or religious holidays, please let me know as soon as possible (technically, within the first two weeks of the semester) so we can arrange alternate scheduling of problem sets or exams.   This same timeframe holds for students who need accommodation for documented disabilities.

There are no required texts for this class.  We cover too much ground at too many levels for one text to suffice, and purchasing an entire set of texts would be financially ruinous.  Here is a list of my favorite reference books for this class.  You may wish to build you library with one or two of them, depending on your interests. 

Bracewell: The Fourier Transform and its Applications, 3^rd Edition.
This wonderful book covers both theory and applications of the Fourier transform.

James: A Student's Guide to Fourier Transforms With Applications in Physics and Engineering
A very nice introduction to Fourier transforms and their uses. 

Hecht, Optics
A particularly clearly written optics book with considerable information on modern and classical optics.

Born and Wolf, Principles of Optics
Advanced topics in diffraction and other optical theory, optical interferometers.

Schroeder: Astronomical Optics
This book covers astronomical optical systems, telescopes, and spectrometers in considerable technical detail. 

Thompson, Moran, Swenson: Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy
Detailed discussions of radio interferometers at a fundamental but advanced level.  An indispensable reference for practitioners.

Rohlfs & Wilson: Tools of Radio Astronomy
This book covers instrumentation and techniques from the radio astronomical perspective, as well as discussing radiation mechanisms and radio astronomy in general. 

Rieke: Detection of Radiation
Covers the detection of radiation from radio to gamma rays.

Howell: Handbook of CCD Astronomy
CCD operation, data processing, and instruments.

Ross: Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists
Very clear exposition of classical elementary statistics at the upper-division undergraduate level. 

Stone: Bayes' Rule -- A Tutorial Introduction to Bayesian Analysis
A readable introduction to Bayes' theorem and the Bayesian approach to statistics.

Sivia: Data Analysis -- A Bayesian Tutorial
A compact introduction to Bayesian analysis through the intermediate level.

Kruschke: Doing Bayesian Data Analysis
A readable and chatty guide from introductory through specialized analysis techniques.

Lupton: Statistics in Theory and Practice
Intermediate-level statistics book that covers more advanced topics in data analysis with astronomical examples.

Seidelmann: Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac
A fundamental reference for fundamental observers -- coordinate systems and transformations, time systems, precession, etc.