A Framework for RFI Simulation and Performance Verification

Modern radio telescopes, like the proposed Square Kilometre Array (SKA), are extremely sensitive and the faint signals they receive can easily be contaminated irreversibly by stray radio frequency interference (RFI). Understanding how radio telescope performance is degraded by RFI is important. In this paper we describe an RFI simulation framework that can be used to generate test stimulus and verify a telescope’s performance. The framework can be used during design to investigate the impact of various RFI scenarios and develop mitigation strategies. As well, it can be used to exercise and test hardware firmware after a system is installed. A prototype of the framework was implemented in the Python computer language to demonstrate the key concepts. Additionally, we outline the framework requirements, describe a suitable software structure and discuss a prototype implementation. As well, we present measurements made to verify the software generates correct test stimulus, for RFI from aircraft distance measuring equipment (DME). The work described was carried out to evaluate the impact of RFI on the Square Kilometre Array, an international effort to build the largest most sensitive radio telescope.