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Hardware and Software Analysis of Intermediate Frequency Signals Based on a Multifunctional Digital Backend System

S. A. Grenkov, D. A. Marshalov, A. G. Mikhailov, A. B. Ustinov, L. V. Fedotov

Transactions of IAA RAS, issue 68, 3–8 (2024)

Keywords: radio telescope, digital Data Acquisition System, software, signal analysis

Abstract

A new Multifunctional Digital Backend (MDBE) system has been developed at the IAA RAS. All radio telescopes of Quasar VLBI network are planned to be equipped with these systems. The system is placed directly on the antenna of the radio telescope, which made it possible to significantly reduce signal paths length, as well as to get rid of high-frequency feeder lines, including cable loops located between the antenna and the control room. However, such placement leads to the fact that in the process of radio astronomy observations, control over the operation of the MDBE and analysis of the signals converted by it is possible only in remote mode by an operator located in the control room. To solve this problem, special hardware and software tools were included in the design of the system, providing ample opportunities for diagnosing the operation of the MDBE and analyzing the signals processed by it. The next step was the development of a special software for the central computer to control the radio telescope, which provides support for the implemented analysis and diagnostic tools, as well as a convenient and visual interface to provide the necessary information to the operator. The paper describes the software designed to implement the control functions of the MDBE: the measurement of signal power in each channel, the control of power spectra and phase spectra, control of Frequency Response Characteristics of channels, the control of the signal group delay in each channel, the control of the phase calibration signal. These functions provide the operator with all the necessary capabilities to control the system and analyze the signals received at its input. The description of the signal analysis hardware embedded in the configuration of Field-Programmable Gate Array in the MDBE channels is given. The operator's interface for analyzing intermediate frequency signals, as well as the composition and capabilities of the software developed for MDBE, which is integrated into the architecture of the standard software of the central radio telescope control computer, are considered. Examples and the results of using tools for signals monitoring and analyzing, provided for in MDBE, are given in real radio astronomy observations.

Citation

Text

BibTeX

RIS

S. A. Grenkov, D. A. Marshalov, A. G. Mikhailov, A. B. Ustinov, L. V. Fedotov. Hardware and Software Analysis of Intermediate Frequency Signals Based on a Multifunctional Digital Backend System // Transactions of IAA RAS. — 2024. — Issue 68. — P. 3–8.

@article{grenkov2024,
  abstract = {A new Multifunctional Digital Backend (MDBE) system has been developed at the IAA RAS. All radio telescopes of Quasar VLBI network are planned to be equipped with these systems. The system is placed directly on the antenna of the radio telescope, which made it possible to significantly reduce signal paths length, as well as to get rid of high-frequency feeder lines, including cable loops located between the antenna and the control room. However, such placement leads to the fact that in the process of radio astronomy observations, control over the operation of the MDBE and analysis of the signals converted by it is possible only in remote mode by an operator located in the control room. To solve this problem, special hardware and software tools were included in the design of the system, providing ample opportunities for diagnosing the operation of the MDBE and analyzing the signals processed by it. The next step was the development of a special software for the central computer to control the radio telescope, which provides support for the implemented analysis and diagnostic tools, as well as a convenient and visual interface to provide the necessary information to the operator.
The paper describes the software designed to implement the control functions of the MDBE: the measurement of signal power in each channel, the control of power spectra and phase spectra, control of Frequency Response Characteristics of channels, the control of the signal group delay in each channel, the control of the phase calibration signal. These functions provide the operator with all the necessary capabilities to control the system and analyze the signals received at its input. The description of the signal analysis hardware embedded in the configuration of Field-Programmable Gate Array in the MDBE channels is given. The operator's interface for analyzing intermediate frequency signals, as well as the composition and capabilities of the software developed for MDBE, which is integrated into the architecture of the standard software of the central radio telescope control computer, are considered. Examples and the results of using tools for signals monitoring and analyzing, provided for in MDBE, are given in real radio astronomy observations.},
  author = {S.~A. Grenkov and D.~A. Marshalov and A.~G. Mikhailov and A.~B. Ustinov and L.~V. Fedotov},
  doi = {10.32876/ApplAstron.68.3-8},
  issue = {68},
  journal = {Transactions of IAA RAS},
  keyword = {radio telescope, digital Data Acquisition System, software, signal analysis},
  pages = {3--8},
  title = {Hardware and Software Analysis of Intermediate Frequency Signals Based on a Multifunctional Digital Backend System},
  url = {http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2172/},
  year = {2024}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Hardware and Software Analysis of Intermediate Frequency Signals Based on a Multifunctional Digital Backend System
AU  - Grenkov, S. A.
AU  - Marshalov, D. A.
AU  - Mikhailov, A. G.
AU  - Ustinov, A. B.
AU  - Fedotov, L. V.
PY  - 2024
T2  - Transactions of IAA RAS
IS  - 68
SP  - 3
AB  - A new Multifunctional Digital Backend (MDBE) system has been
developed at the IAA RAS. All radio telescopes of Quasar VLBI network
are planned to be equipped with these systems. The system is placed
directly on the antenna of the radio telescope, which made it
possible to significantly reduce signal paths length, as well as to
get rid of high-frequency feeder lines, including cable loops located
between the antenna and the control room. However, such placement
leads to the fact that in the process of radio astronomy
observations, control over the operation of the MDBE and analysis of
the signals converted by it is possible only in remote mode by an
operator located in the control room. To solve this problem, special
hardware and software tools were included in the design of the
system, providing ample opportunities for diagnosing the operation of
the MDBE and analyzing the signals processed by it. The next step was
the development of a special software for the central computer to
control the radio telescope, which provides support for the
implemented analysis and diagnostic tools, as well as a convenient
and visual interface to provide the necessary information to the
operator.  The paper describes the software designed to implement the
control functions of the MDBE: the measurement of signal power in
each channel, the control of power spectra and phase spectra, control
of Frequency Response Characteristics of channels, the control of the
signal group delay in each channel, the control of the phase
calibration signal. These functions provide the operator with all the
necessary capabilities to control the system and analyze the signals
received at its input. The description of the signal analysis
hardware embedded in the configuration of Field-Programmable Gate
Array in the MDBE channels is given. The operator's interface for
analyzing intermediate frequency signals, as well as the composition
and capabilities of the software developed for MDBE, which is
integrated into the architecture of the standard software of the
central radio telescope control computer, are considered. Examples
and the results of using tools for signals monitoring and analyzing,
provided for in MDBE, are given in real radio astronomy observations.
DO  - 10.32876/ApplAstron.68.3-8
UR  - http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2172/
ER  -