Optimum linear array of an optical aperture synthesis telescope

Measuring out successively the degree of coherence of the source produced by any couple of the small apertures via rotating an array composed of the small aperture telescopes, and synthesizing them into the (u, v) coverage of the source, the brightness distribution of the source can be obtained by the inverse Fourier transform of the degree of coherence with much higher resolution than from a single telescope. This article discusses the arrangements of the small apertures in the linear array, and found a method to decide the quality of the arrangements. the judgment factor ε is introduced to calculate the arrangements in quantity. There are 1.5×10¹¹ possibilities for 11 apertures. Therefore, the computer procedures are programmed to select the optimum arrangements. The effect of the simulation of the aperture synthesis is given for the linear array. The simulation method can also be used in the nonlinear arrays.