ITR-(ASE)-(int): Development of Efficient Real-Time Multi-mode Data Assimilation and Analysis Techniques for the Arecibo and Related Geophysical Radar Systems

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This project will develop digital signal conversion and processing techniques for the signal from the Arecibo Observatory radar and astronomy systems. Some of the algorithms proposed for real-time processing will be adapted from existing post-processing algorithms while some will be de novo. The extension of the current multi-channel digital receiver prototype will permit much more flexible approaches to signal processing and the development of new signal processing algorithms will advance the study of meteors, ionospheric disturbances and pulsars. The techniques being developed eill permit better separation of incoherently and coherently scattered radar returns and will be used to examine short-period waves and instabilities in the ionosphere, meteors, and objects orbiting around the sun. Coherent returns will be used to determine the orbits of meteors and other objects in heliocentric orbits, and to distinguish meteors of extra-solar origin. Automatic meteor detection algorithms will be extended to four-channel interferometry to provide more accurate meteor trajectories than can be determined using the main beam alone and better identification of the full spectrum of meteor events. To increase the utility of the observatory, a pulsar search algorithm will be developed that can be used when the pulsed radar is operating. This will analyze the signals received in the intervals between pulse transmissions. The project will take advantage of the higher bandwidth of modern internet connections and develop a data analysis system in which the work is distributed between Arecibo Observatory, Pennsylvania State University and the State University of New York at Geneseo.