A Broadband Spectral Analyzer of Cosmic Radio Emissions

Abstract

A digital spectrum analyzer based on the fast Fourier transform of noise signals with bands up to 1024 MHz was designed to equip the RT-32 and RT-13 radio telescopes. The analyzer provides radiometric measurements in the continuum under exposure to radio interference, as well as the registration of radio emissions in spectral lines with high (up to 488 Hz) resolution in frequency. The article describes an analyzer with a spectrum computing device on five field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) of the Virtex-4 series. The parameters and test results of the analyzer are given. Information is given about the development of a single-chip spectrum computing device based on the Virtex-7 with 8 times higher resolution.