| Name: SAMEER R BHARADWAJ |
| Affiliation: National Centre for Radio Astrophysics-Tata Institute of Fundamental Research |
| Conference ID: ASI2026_1041 |
| Title: Sources and Mitigation of Radio Frequency Interference at the Ooty Radio Telescope |
| Abstract Type: Poster |
| Abstract Category: Facilities, Technologies and Data science |
| Author(s) and Co-Author(s) with Affiliation: SAMEER R BHARADWAJ(RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTRE (NCRA-TIFR), OOTY), ABDUL KHADAR PATTEWALE(RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTRE (NCRA-TIFR), OOTY), KRISHNAKUMAR M A(RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTRE (NCRA-TIFR), OOTY), Pravin Raybole(Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (NCRA-TIFR), KHODAD), Alagupandiyaraja Maduraiveeran(RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTRE (NCRA-TIFR), OOTY), YOGENDRA KADAM(RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTRE (NCRA-TIFR), OOTY) |
| Abstract: Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) poses a serious challenge to the operation of sensitive low-frequency radio telescopes. At the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT), increasing levels of RFI have begun to significantly affect routine observations. This talk will present an overview of the major interference sources currently impacting ORT operations and the measures taken to curb them. Prominent among these are interference associated with cable television distribution networks, observed across the 50 MHz band centred at 326.5 MHz. Concerted efforts were made through negotiations with local cable TV distribution networks to clear the ORT band of any signals emanating from them. In addition, persistent impulsive broadband emissions originating from electric fencing systems in the surrounding region, occurring at nearly one-second intervals, contaminate the observations. Time–frequency analysis is used to characterize these RFI signatures and assess their impact on astronomical data quality. The study underscores the importance of systematic RFI monitoring and targeted mitigation efforts to sustain scientific observations at ORT. While these are the major sources of RFI at ORT, we have identified and mitigated several other RFI sources in due course. The talk will summarize all of these efforts made to clean the ORT spectrum for sensitive astronomical observations. Both the source identification and the mitigation efforts undertaken at Ooty can be leveraged by other existing and upcoming radio observatories in India. |
