The Noncoplanar Baselines Effect in Radio Interferometry: The W-Projection Algorithm

We consider a troublesome form of nonisoplanatism in synthesis radio telescopes: noncoplanar baselines. We present a novel interpretation of the noncoplanar baselines effect as being due to differential Fresnel diffraction in the neighborhood of the array antennas. We have developed a new algorithm to deal with this effect. Our new algorithm, which we call "W-projection", has markedly superior performance compared to existing algorithms. At roughly equivalent levels of accuracy, W-projection can be up to an order of magnitude faster than the corresponding facet-based algorithms. Furthermore, the precision of result is not tightly coupled to computing time. W-projection has important consequences for the design and operation of the new generation of radio telescopes operating at centimeter and longer wavelengths.