Spectrum Management for the Protection of Radio Astronomy

该提案包含两个方面的工作，一是了解无线电频率干扰（RFI）对宇宙实验的影响，特别是来自卫星等星载通信平台的RFI，二是从事国内和国际频谱管理活动。这个为期两年的项目侧重于追求电磁频谱的主动和被动使用之间的共存，包括两个主要方面。第一个研究重点是测量和分析卫星下行链路对宇宙微波背景（CMB）天文学的影响，特别是与单碟CMB实验（CLASS）有关。另一个主要推力是国内和国际频谱管理，进行技术研究并参与保护射电天文学的工作，特别是CMB实验。技术研究将包括一个带有频率发生器的试验部分，以预期的卫星下行频率传输信号，以观察对CLASS数据管道的影响。这个试点项目的后续工作是对卫星进行实际观测，利用遥测技术协调观测。国际频谱管理工作将侧重于向国际电信联盟的三个主要研究组提供技术专门知识：第7研究组（科学服务）、第3研究组（传播模型）和第4研究组（卫星）。PI将评估是否可以修改无线电安静区规则，以改善对射电天文学的保护（包括美国和智利），并参加众多国际电信会议和会议。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This proposal contains two areas of work, one in pursuing understanding of the impact from radio frequency interference (RFI) to cosmological experiments, especially RFI from spaceborne communication platforms such as satellites, and second to engage in spectrum management activities domestically and internationally. This two-year project focuses on the pursuit of coexistence between active and passive uses of the electromagnetic spectrum, including two main aspects. The first is a research thrust focused on measurements and analysis of impact of satellite downlinks to cosmic microwave background (CMB) astronomy, especially related to the single-dish CMB experiment, CLASS. The other main thrust is domestic and international spectrum management, to perform technical studies and to participate in work for the protection of radio astronomy, especially the CMB experiments. The technical study will include a pilot portion with a frequency generator to transmit signals at expected satellite downlink frequencies to observe the impact on the CLASS data pipeline. This pilot would be followed up by actual observations of satellites, utilizing telemetry to coordinate the observations. The international spectrum management work would focus on provision of technical expertise to three main study groups at the International Telecommunications Union: Study Group 7 (Science Services), Study Group 3 (Propagation Models), and Study Group 4 (Satellites). The PI would evaluate whether radio quiet zone rules could be amended to improve protection for radio astronomy (both in the U.S. and in Chile) and participate in the numerous international telecommunications meetings and conferences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.