Discovering the microJy Radio VLBI Sky via "Full-beam" Self-calibration

Abstract

We demonstrate that at 1.4 GHz the combined response of sources detected serendipitously in deep, wide-field VLBI images is sufficient to permit self-calibration techniques to be employed. This technique of "full-beam" VLBI self-calibration permits coherent VLBI observations to be successfully conducted in any random direction on the sky, thereby enabling very faint radio sources to be detected. Via full-beam self-calibration, Global VLBI observations can equal and indeed surpass the level of sensitivity achieved by connected arrays. This technique will enable large-scale VLBI surveys of the faint radio source population to be conducted, in addition to targeted observations of faint sources of special interest (e.g. GRBs, SNe, SNR and low-luminosity AGN).