Principles of very-long-baseline interferometry

Abstract

The basic principles of very-long-baseline interferometry as related to its use in the determination of vector baselines, polar motion, and earth rotation are presented. Aspects relevant to geodetic applications that involve observations of extragalactic radio sources are covered. The instrumentation used in these observations and the basic observables and their simplest interpretation are described. Complications of the interpretation due to the various geophysical 'signals' and nongeophysical 'noise' that affect the observables are considered