scholarly journals RFI Survey for the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India

1991 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. 190-193
Author(s):  
G. Swarup ◽  
T.L. Venkatasubramani
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Radio Telescope ◽  
Radio Astronomy ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Extragalactic Astronomy ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Set Up

ABSTRACTA Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) is being set up at Khodad about 80 km north of Pune in India for operation in the frequency range of about 30 to 1500 MHz. It is to be completed by 1992 and is being designed to investigate many outstanding problems in the fields of galactic and extragalactic astronomy. We present here measurements of man-made radio frequency interference (RFI) conducted at the GMRT site in 1985 and 1988. It is seen that highly sensitive radio astronomy observations can still be made at selected bands in the above frequency range because of the relatively low level of RFI in India. However, this advantage may not remain for more than a decade or two.

scholarly journals A survey of spatially and temporally resolved radio frequency interference in the FM band at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Tingay ◽  
M. Sokolowski ◽  
R. Wayth ◽  
D. Ung
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Radio Astronomy ◽  
Angular Resolution ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Astronomy Observatory ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Radio Astronomy Observatory ◽  
Imaging Mode

Abstract We present the first survey of radio frequency interference (RFI) at the future site of the low frequency Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO), that both temporally and spatially resolves the RFI. The survey is conducted in a 1 MHz frequency range within the FM band, designed to encompass the closest and strongest FM transmitters to the MRO (located in Geraldton, approximately 300 km distant). Conducted over approximately three days using the second iteration of the Engineering Development Array in an all-sky imaging mode, we find a range of RFI signals. We are able to categorise the signals into: those received directly from the transmitters, from their horizon locations; reflections from aircraft (occupying approximately 13% of the observation duration); reflections from objects in Earth orbit; and reflections from meteor ionisation trails. In total, we analyse 33 994 images at 7.92 s time resolution in both polarisations with angular resolution of approximately 3.5 $^{\circ}$ , detecting approximately forty thousand RFI events. This detailed breakdown of RFI in the MRO environment will enable future detailed analyses of the likely impacts of RFI on key science at low radio frequencies with the SKA.

scholarly journals Radio Frequency Interference Mitigation and Statistics in the Spectral Observations of FAST

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan-Peng Zhang ◽  
Jin-Long Xu ◽  
Jie Wang ◽  
Yingjie Jing ◽  
Ziming Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Processing ◽  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Radio Telescope ◽  
Radio Astronomy ◽  
Interference Mitigation ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Baseline Fitting ◽  
Statistical Results

Abstract In radio astronomy, radio frequency interference (RFI) becomes more and more serious for radio observational facilities. The RFI always influences the search and study of the interesting astronomical objects. Mitigating the RFI becomes an essential procedure in any survey data processing. Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is an extremely sensitive radio telescope. It is necessary to find out an effective and precise RFI mitigation method for FAST data processing. In this work, we introduce a method to mitigate the RFI in FAST spectral observation and make a statistics for the RFI using ∼300 hours FAST data. The details are as follows. Firstly, according to the characteristics of FAST spectra, we propose to use the ArPLS algorithm for baseline fitting. Our test results show that it has a good performance. Secondly, we flag the RFI with four strategies, which are to flag extremely strong RFI, flag long-lasting RFI, flag polarized RFI, and flag beam-combined RFI, respectively. The test results show that all the RFI above a preset threshold could be flagged. Thirdly, we make a statistics for the probabilities of polarized XX and YY RFI in FAST observations. The statistical results could tell us which frequencies are relatively quiescent. With such statistical data, we are able to avoid using such frequencies in our spectral observations. Finally, based on the ∼300 hours FAST data, we got an RFI table, which is the most complete database currently for FAST.

Studies of Radio Frequency Interference at Parkes Observatory

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 661-666
Author(s):  
Peter R. Backus ◽  
Sam LaRoque ◽  
Jill C. Tarter ◽  
John Dreher ◽  
Kent Cullers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Radio Astronomy ◽  
New South ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Unique Data ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
The Mean

AbstractFrom February through early June, 1995, Project Phoenix conducted SETI observations of 209 stars over the frequency range from 1195 to 3005 MHz. A byproduct of this search is a unique data set suitable for studying the Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) environment at the Parkes 64-m telescope in New South Wales, Australia. RFI is an increasing problem for SETI and other radio astronomy observations conducted outside of the «protected» frequency bands. The data analyzed for this paper were «mean baseline» spectra in Left and Right Circular Polarization (LCP, RCP), integrated for either 138 or 276 s, covering a 10 MHz bandwidth with 15,552 channels at a resolution of 643 Hz. Channels were identified as contaminated by RFI when the power in the channel exceeded the mean noise by 3%. The «spectral occupancy», the fraction of time RFI was seen, was determined for each channel. The RFI occupancy for LCP and RCP are distinctly different. Approximately 100 MHz of the spectrum was too heavily contaminated for SETI observations.

scholarly journals Radio Frequency Interference Measurements for a Radio Astronomy Observatory Site in Indonesia

Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Peberlin Parulian Sitompul ◽  
Timbul Manik ◽  
Mario Batubara ◽  
Bambang Suhandi
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Radio Astronomy ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Frequency Interval ◽  
Astronomy Observatory ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Band Frequency ◽  
Radio Astronomy Observatory ◽  
Interference Measurements

We report on the measurements of radio frequency interference (RFI) at Mount Timau, Kupang, Indonesia, which is intended to host a future radio astronomy observatory. These measurements were taken twice in October 2020 and December 2020 to obtain the RFI environment, at frequencies between 70 and 7000 MHz. Due to the limitations of the measurement data, the results presented in this paper are based on peak detection rather than statistical analysis. Based on the measurement results, the frequency interval between 70–88 MHz and 120–150 MHz is relatively quiet, and the frequency range of 150–300 MHz is relatively clear. The frequency interval of 300 to 800 MHz is relatively quiet, except at the frequency of 600 MHz. The frequency range of 800–1400 MHz is also relatively quiet. The predominant terrestrial services in this band are at 840 MHz, with an amplitude around 32 dB, and 916 MHz, with an amplitude around 12 dB, and the global system for mobile (GSM) signals around 954 MHz have an amplitude around 20 dB above the noise floor. The frequency range of 1400–7000 MHz is also relatively quiet. In this band frequency, we can see RFI at 2145 and 2407 MHz, emitted by local Wi-Fi, and at 2683 MHz, with amplitudes of 18, 40 and 15 dB, respectively, from the noise level. We conclude that, for this period, the frequency band allocated for astronomy can possibly be used for radio telescope development.

scholarly journals Radio-frequency interference mitigating hyperspectral L-band radiometer

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Toose ◽  
Alexandre Roy ◽  
Frederick Solheim ◽  
Chris Derksen ◽  
Tom Watts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Passive Remote Sensing ◽  
Extended Frequency ◽  
L Band ◽  
Radiometric Signal ◽  
Microwave Radiometers

Abstract. Radio-frequency interference (RFI) can significantly contaminate the measured radiometric signal of current spaceborne L-band passive microwave radiometers. These spaceborne radiometers operate within the protected passive remote sensing and radio-astronomy frequency allocation of 1400–1427 MHz but nonetheless are still subjected to frequent RFI intrusions. We present a unique surface-based and airborne hyperspectral 385 channel, dual polarization, L-band Fourier transform, RFI-detecting radiometer designed with a frequency range from 1400 through  ≈  1550 MHz. The extended frequency range was intended to increase the likelihood of detecting adjacent RFI-free channels to increase the signal, and therefore the thermal resolution, of the radiometer instrument. The external instrument calibration uses three targets (sky, ambient, and warm), and validation from independent stability measurements shows a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.0 K for ambient and warm targets and 1.5 K for sky. A simple but effective RFI removal method which exploits the large number of frequency channels is also described. This method separates the desired thermal emission from RFI intrusions and was evaluated with synthetic microwave spectra generated using a Monte Carlo approach and validated with surface-based and airborne experimental measurements.

scholarly journals An in-depth investigation of 11 pulsars discovered by FAST

2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (3) ◽  
pp. 3515-3530 ◽  
Author(s):  
A D Cameron ◽  
D Li ◽  
G Hobbs ◽  
L Zhang ◽  
C C Miao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radio Telescope ◽  
Radio Astronomy ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Linearly Polarized ◽  
Drift Scan ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Way

ABSTRACT We present timing solutions and analyses of 11 pulsars discovered by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). These pulsars were discovered using an ultrawide bandwidth receiver in drift-scan observations made during the commissioning phase of FAST, and were then confirmed and timed using the 64-m Parkes Radio Telescope. Each pulsar has been observed over a span of at least one year. Highlighted discoveries include PSR J0344−0901, which displays mode-changing behaviour and may belong to the class of so-called swooshing pulsars (alongside PSRs B0919+06 and B1859+07); PSR J0803−0942, whose emission is almost completely linearly polarized; and PSRs J1900−0134 and J1945+1211, whose well-defined polarization angle curves place stringent constraints on their emission geometry. We further discuss the detectability of these pulsars by earlier surveys, and highlight lessons learned from our work in carrying out confirmation and monitoring observations of pulsars discovered by a highly sensitive telescope, many of which may be applicable to next-generation pulsar surveys. This paper marks one of the first major releases of FAST-discovered pulsars, and paves the way for future discoveries anticipated from the Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey.

scholarly journals Surveying RFI for a new Brazilian Solar Spectroscope site

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S264) ◽  
pp. 484-486
Author(s):  
José R. Cecatto ◽  
Paulo C. G. Albuquerque ◽  
Ivan O. G. Vila ◽  
Alan B. Cassiano ◽  
César Strauss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
High Time ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Site Change ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Antenna Location

AbstractBrazilian Solar Spectroscope (BSS) carry out high time (0.01–0.1 s) resolution solar spectral investigations within the frequency range 1–2.5 GHz on a daily basis. At the moment, a new site is imposed to this facility. This site change became necessary due to both factors: the growing level of radio frequency interference (RFI) signals at actual site and requirements of rising up a new building at the BSS antenna location. We present results of RFI signals search at INPE-Cachoeira Paulista area as purpose to define a new BSS site.

Low-frequency technology for a lunar interferometer

2020 ◽  
Vol 379 (2188) ◽  
pp. 20190575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Zarb Adami ◽  
I. O. Farhat
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Signal Detection ◽  
Radio Astronomy ◽  
Lunar Surface ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Radio Interferometer ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Single Antenna ◽  
Global Signal

This work sketches a possible design architecture of a low-frequency radio interferometer located on the lunar surface. The design has evolved from single antenna experiments aimed at the global signal detection of the epoch of reionization (EoR) to the square kilometre array (SKA) which, when complete, will be capable of imaging the highly red-shifted H 1 -signal from the cosmic dawn through to the EoR. However, due to the opacity of the ionosphere below 10 MHz and the anthropogenic radio-frequency interference, these terrestrial facilities are incapable of detecting pre-ionization signals and the moon becomes an attractive location to build a low-frequency radio interferometer capable of detecting such cosmological signals. Even though there are enormous engineering challenges to overcome, having this scientific facility on the lunar surface also opens up several new exciting possibilities for low-frequency radio astronomy. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades’.

scholarly journals Deep learning improves identification of Radio Frequency Interference

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (1) ◽  
pp. 379-390
Author(s):  
Alireza Vafaei Sadr ◽  
Bruce A Bassett ◽  
Nadeem Oozeer ◽  
Yabebal Fantaye ◽  
Chris Finlay
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Transfer Learning ◽  
Radio Astronomy ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Amplitude Data ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
Telescope Arrays

ABSTRACT Flagging of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) in time–frequency visibility data is an increasingly important challenge in radio astronomy. We present R-Net, a deep convolutional ResNet architecture that significantly outperforms existing algorithms – including the default MeerKAT RFI flagger, and deep U-Net architectures – across all metrics including AUC, F1-score, and MCC. We demonstrate the robustness of this improvement on both single dish and interferometric simulations and, using transfer learning, on real data. Our R-Net model’s precision is approximately $90{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ better than the current MeerKAT flagger at $80{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ recall and has a 35 per cent higher F1-score with no additional performance cost. We further highlight the effectiveness of transfer learning from a model initially trained on simulated MeerKAT data and fine-tuned on real, human-flagged, KAT-7 data. Despite the wide differences in the nature of the two telescope arrays, the model achieves an AUC of 0.91, while the best model without transfer learning only reaches an AUC of 0.67. We consider the use of phase information in our models but find that without calibration the phase adds almost no extra information relative to amplitude data only. Our results strongly suggest that deep learning on simulations, boosted by transfer learning on real data, will likely play a key role in the future of RFI flagging of radio astronomy data.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document