VLBI Polarisation with the Yebes (EVN) and Hobart (LBA) antennae

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development of VLBI polarisation processing code supporting new antenna mount types, enabling seamless data handling for diverse antenna configurations in radio astronomy.

Contribution

It introduces extensions to AIPS that support left-handed and right-handed Nasmyth and EW-mount types for VLBI polarisation data processing.

Findings

Support for new mount types integrated into AIPS

Seamless data handling with correct feed angles

Enhanced polarisation analysis capabilities

Abstract

Work has been on-going for the development of the required code for full polarisation processing of VLBI data using some new antennae mounts. The extensions of AIPS allows the support of two new mount types; the left-handed and right-handed Nasmyth antennae (Pico Veleta in the GMVA and Yebes-40m in the EVN) and the EW-mount (Hobart in the LBA). The data handling process is seamless, once the correct mount type has been selected. All subsequent calls to the parallactic angle subroutine PARANG will return the feed angles for Left or Right Nasmyth or EW-mount. These are required, respectively, for Pico Veleta, Yebes-40m (low frequency branch) and Hobart.