An introduction to visibility modeling

In order to exploit current interferometers the observer needs to be familiar with the process of visibility modeling. We introduce the tools that are required to allow the construction of a proper visibility model. We start by recalling basic Fourier analysis and visibility notions. We then follow with the description of the essential visibility analytical building blocks and then show how to arrange them together in order to construct a more complex picture. As an example we construct an analytical model of the visibility curve expected from an accretion disk model. Finally we discuss few issues an observer should be aware of when modelling visibilities. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.