Design and implementation of a two-element interferometer
Date
2022-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis describes the design and implementation of a two-element interferometer. This
is aimed to exhibit the basis of radio astronomy and act as a demonstrator of interferome tery. The instrument consists of two identical channels with three subsystems within the
channels. The first is an offset reflector antenna system, where axially corrugated horn
antennae are designed as the feed antennae. The second subsystem is a receiver chain,
which consists of off-the-shelf components. A dual-conversion superheterodyne receiver
is designed to process the radio frequency signal before digitisation. The last subsystem
is a digital correlator. This consists of digitisation of the signal and correlation between
the two receiver channels which is implemented using Red Pitaya and MATLAB. The
system has an operating frequency of 12 GHz with a 60 MHz bandwidth. The chosen
source for observation is the sun and the instrument is oriented on a east-west direction,
while taking meridian drift scan observations. The observations show that it is possible
to detect the sun.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: : Geen opsomming beskikbaar
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: : Geen opsomming beskikbaar
Description
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.
Keywords
UCTD, Interferometer, Radio astronomy, Antennas, Reflector, Radio frequency interference