The role of VLBI in astrophysics, astrometry and geodesy : [proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on the Role of VLBI in Astrophysics, Astrometry and Geodesy, Bologna, Italy, September 17-29, 2001

A masterly survey of the last 13 years of Very Long Baseline Interferometry, reviewed in light of the most advanced astronomical observations. Topics covered include: Nonthermal emission from extragalactic radio sources; Principles of synchrotron emission in relation to astrophysics; Theory of relativistic jets; Young, powerful radio sources and their evolution; Scintillation in extragalactic radio sources; Radio and optical interferometry; Radio polarimetry; Unified schemes; Deep fields; Tropospheric and ionospheric phase calibration; Supernovae; VLBI for geodesy and geodynamics. Radio Astronomy....Pages 1-12 Principles of Synchrotron Emission in an Astrophysical Context....Pages 13-27 Non-Thermal Emission from Extragalactic Radio Sources: A High Resolution - Broad Band Approach....Pages 29-82 The Observational Properties of Blazars; Selection, Relationships and Unification....Pages 83-91 Observing Blazars with VLBI....Pages 93-106 Theory of Relativistic Jets: Basic Concepts....Pages 107-127 Parsec-Scale Morphologies and Properties of Radio Sources....Pages 129-141 Supermassive Black Holes in the Universe....Pages 143-156 Young Powerful Radio Sources and their Evolution....Pages 157-174 AGN Unification; Past Present and Future....Pages 175-189 Radio Polarimetry....Pages 191-204 Gravitational Lensing with a Radio Bias....Pages 205-217 VLBI Observations of Gravitational Lenses....Pages 219-231 Scintillation in Extragalactic Radio Sources....Pages 233-242 Supernovae....Pages 243-256 Astrophysical Masers....Pages 257-288 Radio and Optical Interferometry....Pages 289-305 Optical Interferometry: Astronomical Application....Pages 307-317 Data Analysis....Pages 319-336 Deep Fields: The Faint Sub-mJy and MicroJy Radio Sky....Pages 337-347 Space VLBI....Pages 349-358 VLBI for Geodesy and Geodynamics....Pages 359-381 Tropospheric and Ionospheric Phase Calibration....Pages 383-402 Ground Based VLBI Facilities - the European and Global VLBI Network....Pages 403-413 Edited By Franco Mantovani, Andrzej Kus. Proceedings Of The Nato Advanced Study Institute On The Role Of Vlbi In Astrophysics, Astronomy And Geodesy, Bologna, Italy, September 17-29, 2001--t.p. Verso.