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- Title
First Observations With a GNSS Antenna to Radio Telescope Interferometer.
- Authors
Skeens, J.; York, J.; Petrov, L.; Munton, D.; Herrity, K.; Ji‐Cathriner, R.; Bettadpur, S.; Gaussiran, T.
- Abstract
We describe the design of a radio interferometer composed of a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) antenna and a Very Long Baseline Interferometry radio telescope. Our eventual goal is to use this interferometer for geodetic applications including local tie measurements. The GNSS element of the interferometer uses a unique software‐defined receiving system and modified commercial geodetic‐quality GNSS antenna. We ran three observing sessions in 2022 between a 25 m radio telescope in Fort Davis, Texas (FD‐VLBA), a transportable GNSS antenna placed within 100 m, and a GNSS antenna placed at a distance of about 9 km. We have detected a strong interferometric response with a Signal‐to‐Noise Ratio (SNR) of over 1,000 from Global Positioning System and Galileo satellites. We also observed natural radio sources including Galactic supernova remnants and Active Galactic Nuclei located as far as one gigaparsec, thus extending the range of sources that can be referenced to a GNSS antenna by 18 orders of magnitude. These detections represent the first observations made with a GNSS antenna to radio telescope interferometer. We have developed a novel technique based on a Precise Point Positioning solution of the recorded GNSS signal that allows us to extend integration time at 1.5 GHz to at least 20 min without any noticeable SNR degradation when a rubidium frequency standard is used. Plain Language Summary: We have developed a unique version of a device called a radio interferometer. This device usually uses two large radio telescopes to record data about the Earth or astronomical sources. Our device uses a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) antenna and a Very Long Baseline Interferometry radio telescope instead of two radio telescopes. We hope to use it to link the two measurement systems. We tested it by using it to record signals from satellites and other astronomical objects. We found that it worked well and could detect signals from much further away than a GNSS antenna can detect alone. We also developed a new technique that allows us to continuously integrate signals for longer periods with a less precise clock without losing signal strength. This is the first time anyone has used a GNSS antenna with a radio telescope in this way. Key Points: We developed technology to use a modified commercial Global Navigation Satellite Systems antenna as an element of a radio interferometerWe observed a strong interferometric response for Global Positioning System and Galileo satellites as well as celestial radio sourcesWe developed a technique that uses a clock solution to extend the coherent accumulation time with a rubidium clock to over 20 min
- Subjects
TEXAS; GALILEI, Galileo, 1564-1642; RADIO telescopes; RADIO antennas; GLOBAL Positioning System; RADIO interferometers; VERY long baseline interferometry; GALILEO satellite navigation system
- Publication
Radio Science, 2023, Vol 58, Issue 8, p1
- ISSN
0048-6604
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2023RS007734