The Design of a Two-element Radio Interferometer Using Satellite TV Equipment

Abstract

With the development of sophisticated radio astronomy instruments, there is a need to develop an affordable educational instrument that can be used for demonstration purposes. In this paper, the design and testing of a two-element radio interferometer capable of fulfilling this need is presented. This system can be used in smaller training courses to provide students with a hands-on experience of the electronics and the assembly of a basic interferometer, which would enhance students' understanding of larger, professional systems. In an effort to reduce cost and waste, the receiver comprised of reused commercial satellite TV equipment, such as dishes and low-noise block down-converters (LNBs). Additional customized printed circuit boards (PCBs) were developed to perform correlation using the adding interferometer architecture. The interferometer was successful in detecting and observing the sun's fringes, which was further resolved along a 3 m baseline.