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This paper describes methods for accurate pattern modeling of large axisymmetric paraboloidal focus-fed reflector antenna systems. We demonstrate that the incorporation of the developed pattern models helps in advancing the state-of-the-art in coherent time-domain canceling (CTC) for interference mitigation in radio astronomy. The first method yields a closed form expression for the antenna pattern with parameters accounting for the focal ratio and feed pattern. In subsequent adaptive methods, parameters of this model are calculated using measurements of interference signals. The corrected pattern model improves the prediction of the change in the true pattern for future times. The methods are compared by (1) comparing the error in the pattern model with respect to the true pattern and (2) comparing the pattern value update period required to achieve a specified level of residual interference when used in CTC. The efficacy of the pattern modeling methods is demonstrated by showing that the error in the pattern model decreases and the pattern value needs to be updated at a much slower rate for effective CTC.
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Coherent Time-domain Canceling of Interference for Radio Astronomy
Abstract Radio astronomy is vulnerable to interference from a variety of anthropogenic sources. Among the many strategies for mitigation of this interference is coherent time-domain canceling (CTC), which ideally allows one to “look through” interference, as opposed to avoiding the interference or deleting the afflicted data. However, CTC is difficult to implement, not well understood, and at present this strategy is not in regular use at any major radio telescope. This paper presents a review of CTC including a new comprehensive study of the capabilities and limitations of CTC using metrics relevant to radio astronomy, including fraction of interference power removed and increase in noise. This work is motivated by the emergence of a new generation of communications systems which pose a significantly increased threat to radio astronomy and which may overwhelm mitigation methods now in place.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2029948
- PAR ID:
- 10445699
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
- Volume:
- 134
- Issue:
- 1041
- ISSN:
- 0004-6280
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 114505
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/ac9b92
