Calibration of the OLFAR space-based radio telescope using an alternating least squares approach

Pieter Karel Anton van Vugt; Arjan Meijerink; Marinus Jan Bentum

doi:10.1109/AERO.2016.7500559

Calibration of the OLFAR space-based radio telescope using an alternating least squares approach

Pieter Karel Anton van Vugt, Arjan Meijerink, Marinus Jan Bentum

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

7 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Radio astronomy below 30 MHz has never been properly performed because the ionosphere inhibits this on Earth. The Orbiting Low-Frequency Antennas for Radio Astronomy (OLFAR) project aims to build a radio telescope consisting of 50 or more nano-satellites in space, forming a swarm-like array. The observational antenna systems need to be calibrated to successfully detect astronomical signals. However, a satellite swarm presents a unique calibration challenge, which is outlined in this paper. An approach is proposed for the calibration of several important system parameters, based on alternating least squares (ALS). In the proposed method, polarization is taken into account without the common simplifications, such as only considering fully linear polarization, and a good convergence rate is achieved. For validation, Monte Carlo simulations are compared with the Cramer-Rao bound.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference
Place of Publication	USA
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	1-8
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Print)	978-1-4673-7676-1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/AERO.2016.7500559
Publication status	Published - 11 Mar 2016
Event	2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference - Yellowstone Conference Center, Big Sky, United States Duration: 5 Mar 2016 → 12 Mar 2016

Publication series

Name
Publisher	IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

Conference

Conference	2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference
Country/Territory	United States
City	Big Sky
Period	5/03/16 → 12/03/16

Keywords

EWI-27079
METIS-318461
IR-101029

Access to Document

10.1109/AERO.2016.7500559

http://eprints.eemcs.utwente.nl/secure2/27079/01/DOC.pdf

Cite this

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title = "Calibration of the OLFAR space-based radio telescope using an alternating least squares approach",

abstract = "Radio astronomy below 30 MHz has never been properly performed because the ionosphere inhibits this on Earth. The Orbiting Low-Frequency Antennas for Radio Astronomy (OLFAR) project aims to build a radio telescope consisting of 50 or more nano-satellites in space, forming a swarm-like array. The observational antenna systems need to be calibrated to successfully detect astronomical signals. However, a satellite swarm presents a unique calibration challenge, which is outlined in this paper. An approach is proposed for the calibration of several important system parameters, based on alternating least squares (ALS). In the proposed method, polarization is taken into account without the common simplifications, such as only considering fully linear polarization, and a good convergence rate is achieved. For validation, Monte Carlo simulations are compared with the Cramer-Rao bound.",

keywords = "EWI-27079, METIS-318461, IR-101029",

author = "{van Vugt}, {Pieter Karel Anton} and Arjan Meijerink and Bentum, {Marinus Jan}",

note = "eemcs-eprint-27079 ; 2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference ; Conference date: 05-03-2016 Through 12-03-2016",

year = "2016",

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doi = "10.1109/AERO.2016.7500559",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-4673-7676-1",

publisher = "IEEE",

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T1 - Calibration of the OLFAR space-based radio telescope using an alternating least squares approach

AU - van Vugt, Pieter Karel Anton

AU - Meijerink, Arjan

AU - Bentum, Marinus Jan

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PY - 2016/3/11

Y1 - 2016/3/11

N2 - Radio astronomy below 30 MHz has never been properly performed because the ionosphere inhibits this on Earth. The Orbiting Low-Frequency Antennas for Radio Astronomy (OLFAR) project aims to build a radio telescope consisting of 50 or more nano-satellites in space, forming a swarm-like array. The observational antenna systems need to be calibrated to successfully detect astronomical signals. However, a satellite swarm presents a unique calibration challenge, which is outlined in this paper. An approach is proposed for the calibration of several important system parameters, based on alternating least squares (ALS). In the proposed method, polarization is taken into account without the common simplifications, such as only considering fully linear polarization, and a good convergence rate is achieved. For validation, Monte Carlo simulations are compared with the Cramer-Rao bound.

AB - Radio astronomy below 30 MHz has never been properly performed because the ionosphere inhibits this on Earth. The Orbiting Low-Frequency Antennas for Radio Astronomy (OLFAR) project aims to build a radio telescope consisting of 50 or more nano-satellites in space, forming a swarm-like array. The observational antenna systems need to be calibrated to successfully detect astronomical signals. However, a satellite swarm presents a unique calibration challenge, which is outlined in this paper. An approach is proposed for the calibration of several important system parameters, based on alternating least squares (ALS). In the proposed method, polarization is taken into account without the common simplifications, such as only considering fully linear polarization, and a good convergence rate is achieved. For validation, Monte Carlo simulations are compared with the Cramer-Rao bound.

KW - EWI-27079

KW - METIS-318461

KW - IR-101029

U2 - 10.1109/AERO.2016.7500559

DO - 10.1109/AERO.2016.7500559

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-1-4673-7676-1

SP - 1

EP - 8

BT - 2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference

PB - IEEE

CY - USA

T2 - 2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference

Y2 - 5 March 2016 through 12 March 2016

ER -

Calibration of the OLFAR space-based radio telescope using an alternating least squares approach

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

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