ATNF Interference Mitigation Information

Background

Man-made radio-frequency interference (RFI) is now so pervasive that many radio astronomical observations are rendered difficult, or even impossible. As well as the hazard from terrestial transmitters, geostationary and earth-orbiting satellites, used nowadays in a plethora of communication and navigation applications, cause significant interference. Many satellites now render the radio astronomer's traditional defence of retreating to isolated locations ineffective, since "constellation" deployment strategies achieve almost total global coverage. New radio astronomical techniques to mitigate RFI are therefore highly desirable in existing telescopes and, given the enormous sensitivity of the next-generation SKA instrument, such mitigation must be central to the design if the SKA is to achieve its scientific goals.

ATNF Links on Interference Mitigation

• Overview of the ATNF interference mitigation programs.
• The main ATNF RFI briefing pages for users of our telescopes and other Australian radio astronomy facilities.
• Software Radio Telescope: Interference Atlas and Mitigation Schemes
• Proceedings from the E&F White Conference on interference mitigation.
• Post-correlation studies by Mike Kesteven and Bob Sault. Also see notes on setting up the post-correlation system at Narrabri.
• Two memos taking a grand project overview dealing with strategic and operational plans are now available in PDF format.
• Memos by Peter Hall attempting to predict interference levels at Narrabri and Parkes based on the Australia Communication Authority frequency allocations. Peter has a similar memo predicting interference at Parkes and Woomera (pdf file).
• ATNF interference links.
• Australia Telescope RFI Mitigation Development Plans.
• Minutes of various internal meetings.

Sites with broader scope

• Interference Mitigation for Radio Astronomy (international page)
• The SKA - Square Kilometre Array

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