Removing radio interference from contaminated astronomical spectra using an independent reference signal and closure relations

Details Removing radio interference from contaminated astronomical spectra using an independent reference signal and closure relations Removing radio interference from contaminated astronomical spectra using an independent reference signal and closure relations

2000-06-16

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0006222v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

15 pages, 13 figures, accepted at AJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/316861

The growing level of radio frequency interference (RFI) is a recognized problem for research in radio astronomy. This paper describes an intuitive but powerful RFI cancellation technique that is suitable for radio spectroscopy where time-averages are recorded. An RFI ``reference signal,'' is constructed from the cross power spectrum of the signals from the two polarizations of a reference horn pointed at the source of the RFI signal. The RFI signal paths obey simple phase and amplitude closure relations, which allows computation of the RFI contamination in the astronomical data and the corrections to be applied to the astronomical spectra. Since the method is immune to the effects of multipath scattering in both the astronomy and reference signal channels, ``clean copies'' of the RFI signal are not required. The method could be generalized (1) to interferometer arrays, (2) to correct for scattered solar radiation that causes spectral ``standing waves'' in single-dish spectroscopy, and (3) to pulsar survey and timing applications where a digital correlator plays an important role in broadband pulse dedispersion. Future large radio telescopes, such as the proposed LOFAR and SKA arrays, will require a high degree of RFI suppression and could implement the technique proposed here with the benefit of faster electronics, greater digital precision and higher data rates.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Removing radio interference from contaminated astronomical spectra using an independent reference signal and closure relations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Removing radio interference from contaminated astronomical spectra using an independent reference signal and closure relations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Removing radio interference from contaminated astronomical spectra using an independent reference signal and closure relations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-655612