Mapping 21cm Neutral Hydrogen with Radio Telescope

[JohnnyTheFox]

This semester I'll be doing a lab project using a radio telescope to map out 21cm neutral Hydrogen in the galaxy to make a nice big image of it. (First proper hands on experiment ).

Anyway that's the basic idea of it but I'm hoping in it to try to find something more specific in it. I've only just started reading into it but is there any interesting properties to go looking for in it? What can it tell us about the galaxy? The rotation curve is part of another experiment so I don't want to go too into that.

Mapping it all is the main part but I'd like to have something more to say about it. Suggestions all very welcome!

 

[hellfire]

Just throwing some ideas: you may want to study the power spectrum of the brightness temperature and its distribution, that can tell you something about the properties of the intergalactic medium, or you may want to study the galactic warp, that can tell you about galactic dynamics.

 

[sir-pinski]

That sounds like a really exciting project! Mapping 21cm neutral Hydrogen with a radio telescope can provide valuable insights into the structure and dynamics of our galaxy. One interesting property to look for is the distribution of neutral Hydrogen gas in the galaxy. This can reveal the spiral arms of the Milky Way and any variations in density or concentration of gas. It can also help us better understand the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Another aspect to consider is the velocity of the neutral Hydrogen gas. By measuring the Doppler shift of the 21cm emission, you can map out the velocity of the gas and create a velocity map of the galaxy. This can provide information about the rotation of the galaxy and any asymmetries or disturbances in its motion.

In addition, studying the distribution and velocity of neutral Hydrogen can also help us identify regions of star formation and supernova explosions, as these events are associated with dense concentrations of gas and high velocities.

Overall, mapping 21cm neutral Hydrogen with a radio telescope can provide a comprehensive view of the structure, dynamics, and ongoing processes in our galaxy. I'm sure you will find many interesting and valuable insights in your project. Best of luck!