African VLBI Network Training Site

News

Invited Talk: Friday 17 May 2019 - Prof Tinus Stander

 

17 May 2019 16:30 - 17:30

Title: Water Vapour Radiometry and Radiometers


Author: Prof Tinus Stander 
              University of Pretoria (UP)


Abstract:
The accuracy of mm-wave VLBI observation is impeded significantly by highly variable (both spatially and temporally) tropospheric water vapour. To allow for phase correction and site management, the concentration of water vapour may be monitored continuously by a water vapour radiometer, which monitors emission from either the 22 GHz or 183 GHz water lines. This talk will present an overview of techniques and instruments for this task, and introduce recent new developments in creating low-cost water vapour radiometers for site surveying.

 

More about the author:

Tinus Pic

Tinus Stander completed his B.Eng and PhD degrees in Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University in 2005 and 2009, respectively. From 2010 to 2012 he served as RF and microwave engineer at Denel Dynamics (a division of Denel SOC LTD) before joining the Carl and Emily Fuchs Institute for Microelectronics (Dept. Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering) at the University of Pretoria in 2013. He currently serves as principal investigator in microwave and mm-wave microelectronics at the Institute, with personal research interest in the application of distributed passives on-chip and built-in self-testing. He is also registered as Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa, and serves as Scientific Advisor to Multifractal Semiconductors (Pty) Ltd.