Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 132, 401-411

A 1.4 GHz radio continuum and polarization survey at medium Galactic latitudes

I. Observation and reduction technique

B. Uyaniker - E. Fürst - W. Reich - P. Reich - R. Wielebinski

Send offprint request: W. Reich

Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Postfach 2024, 53010 Bonn, Germany

Received December 4, 1997; accepted April 27, 1998

Abstract:

A radio continuum survey at medium Galactic latitudes with the Effelsberg 100-m telescope is being carried out at a centre frequency of 1.4 GHz in total power and linear polarization. Areas up to $\pm 20\hbox{$^\circ$}$ of Galactic latitude are now being observed at a sensitivity of 15 mK $T_\mathrm{B}$ in total intensity and 8 mK $T_\mathrm{B}$ in linear polarization with an angular resolution of $9\hbox{$.\mkern-4mu^\prime$}35$. This paper describes the observing and reduction technique applied which results in absolutely calibrated maps. The methods are illustrated by examples of images from the survey.

Key words: polarization -- methods: data analysis -- techniques: polarimetric -- surveys -- galaxy: structure -- radio continuum: ISM