African VLBI Network Training Site

Title: VLBI Simulations and their Applications for the AVN

Author: Mr David Mayer
              Technische Universität Wien, Research Group Advanced Geodesy

Abstract:
VLBI is the only space geodetic technique which is able to orientate the Earth in space. The quality of such a position depends mainly on the distribution of stations around the globe. Therefore, remote stations (such as HartRAO) are of high importance for the community. But how can we quantify the impact a station has on the overall performance of the network? Furthermore, how should we decide where to invest in new telescopes and how much would the final product benefit from the investment.

These questions can be answered with VLBI simulations. We will present two studies which are of interest for the African VLBI community. In the first study, the importance for the only African VLBI station which is observing at the moment (HartRAO) will be evaluated. The second study, will look at potential networks using artificial telescopes placed on possible future sites in Africa.

More about the author:

David Mayer is a Ph.D. student at the Technische Universität Wien. He studied Advanced Geodesy and Geophysics and got his master’s degree from the Technische Universität Wien in 2015. In the course of his Master’s program he spent a year at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory where he wrote his thesis “Importance of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory for the VLBI network”.

One of his responsibilities was/is the creation of schedules for the AuScope VLBI network where he created more than 100 schedules from 2014 to 2016.

David is a member of the IVS and is currently cooperating with the ICRF-3 working group creating the next generation of the international celestial reference frame.