Simulation of Systematic Errors in Phase-Referenced VLBI Astrometry

N. Pradel (1, 2, 3) , P. Charlot (1, 2, 3) , J. -F. Lestrade (4)

1 OASU - Observatoire aquitain des sciences de l'univers
2 LAB - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux [Pessac]
3 L3AB - Laboratoire d'astrodynamique, d'astrophysique et d'aéronomie de bordeaux
4 LERMA - Laboratoire d'Etude du Rayonnement et de la Matière en Astrophysique

The astrometric accuracy in the relative coordinates of two angularly-close radio sources observed with the phase-referencing VLBI technique is limited by systematic errors. These include geometric errors and atmospheric errors. Based on simulation with the SPRINT software, we evaluate the impact of these errors in the estimated relative source coordinates for standard VLBA observations. Such evaluations are useful to estimate the actual accuracy of phase-referenced VLBI astrometry.

Domaines: Astrophysique galactique [astro-ph.GA]; Astrophysique galactique [astro-ph.GA]

N. Pradel, P. Charlot, J. -F. Lestrade. Simulation of Systematic Errors in Phase-Referenced VLBI Astrometry. Future Directions in High Resolution Astronomy: The 10th Anniversary of the VLBA, 2005, -, United States. pp.538. ⟨hal-00482671⟩