Robust 2D fringe search algorithm for radio interferometry of very weak downlink signals of deep space probes

Fengchun Shu; Xiuzhong Zhang

doi:10.1117/12.774886

10 November 2007 Robust 2D fringe search algorithm for radio interferometry of very weak downlink signals of deep space probes

Fengchun Shu, Xiuzhong Zhang

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6795, Second International Conference on Space Information Technology; 67954Q (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.774886
Event: Second International Conference on Spatial Information Technology, 2007, Wuhan, China

Abstract

The function of fringe search is to find the maximum amplitude of complex cross-correlation function and determine the residual delay and delay rate with respective to correlator model. When the signals transmitted by deep space probes have high SNR, the fringe search algorithm based on weighted least square estimation is very effective by tracking the fringe phase without 2π ambiguities in the frequency and time domain respectively, but it is not suitable for very weak signals when fringe phases include relatively large noises. According to VLBI data processing method for extra-galactic radio sources, a robust 2D fringe search algorithm is proposed for radio interferometry of very weak downlink signals of deep space probes. Compared with phase tracking fringe search algorithm, the proposed iterative process for searching the maximum correlation amplitude is performed in the two dimensional delay and delay rate plane, which is insensitive to large phase fluctuation in time and frequency domain, phase cycle ambiguities and phase outliers, so it is an optimal algorithm and much more robust for very weak signals. It can be proved theoretically that the proposed algorithm is equivalent to weighted least square estimation. Finally, fringe search for the VLBI observation of Mars Express is presented by using a software program implementing the iterative algorithm.

Citation Download Citation

Fengchun Shu and Xiuzhong Zhang "Robust 2D fringe search algorithm for radio interferometry of very weak downlink signals of deep space probes", Proc. SPIE 6795, Second International Conference on Space Information Technology, 67954Q (10 November 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.774886

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