Altair Case Studies The SKA Radio Telescope: Leveraging IoT for a Better Understanding of the Universe

	The SKA Radio Telescope: Leveraging IoT for a Better Understanding of the Universe Altair

The SKA Radio Telescope: Leveraging IoT for a Better Understanding of the Universe

Altair

Technology Category	Networks & Connectivity - RF Transceivers Networks & Connectivity - RFID
Applicable Industries	Aerospace Telecommunications
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Transportation Simulation Virtual Reality
Services	System Integration
Challenge	The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, led by the SKA Organization from Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK, aims to challenge Einstein’s seminal theory of relativity, study the formation of the first stars and galaxies, explore dark energy and vast magnetic fields in the cosmos, and answer the age-old question, 'Are we alone in the Universe?' The SKA will be a collection of various types of antennas, including large dish reflectors and aperture antennas, spread over large distances and working together as an interferometric array. The SKA will be 10,000 times faster and 50 times more sensitive than any existing radio telescope. However, the proximity of adjacent antennas and other systems can result in unwanted inter-coupling, even from low-level emissions, due to currents on cables. This inter-coupling needs to be minimized, which requires identifying the coupling mechanisms and applying measures to improve isolation. On-site radio frequency (RF) coupling investigations are required, but they can only be done after installation. During the design, planning, and installation stages, characterization of the electromagnetic (EM) environment has to be done on scale models and through simulations. Read More
About Customer	The customer in this case is the SKA Organization from Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK, supported by 11 member countries - South Africa, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The SKA project aims to challenge Einstein’s seminal theory of relativity, study the formation of the first stars and galaxies, explore dark energy and vast magnetic fields in the cosmos, and answer the age-old question, 'Are we alone in the Universe?' The SKA will be a collection of various types of antennas, including large dish reflectors and aperture antennas, spread over large distances and working together as an interferometric array. The SKA will be 10,000 times faster and 50 times more sensitive than any existing radio telescope. Read More
Solution	The Research Chair at the University of Stellenbosch focuses on the analysis of both electromagnetic systems and mitigation of radio frequency interference (RFI) between systems. Dr Gideon Wiid and Mr Kuja Stanley Okoth from the EMC Metrology Research and Innovation (EMRIN) group have been working on Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) metrology issues for the SKA. Simulation was, and still is, the only viable option to study the interference characteristics in detail. This requires extensive verification of the computational electromagnetic (CEM) model and measurements on a scale model in an anechoic chamber. FEKO’s state of the art parallel method of moments (MoM) solver was run at the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) in Cape Town and the simulations were completed in a matter of days. For the actual MeerKAT telescope, on-site RFI measurements were conducted using an emission reference source (ERS) that operates from 30-1000 MHz. The validated FEKO model can then be used to do rigorous RFI studies and make design, layout, shielding, and bonding recommendations to mitigate the interference between these extremely sensitive telescopes. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - RF Transceivers

Networks & Connectivity - RFID

Applicable Industries

Aerospace

Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Transportation Simulation

Virtual Reality

Services

System Integration

Challenge

The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, led by the SKA Organization from Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK, aims to challenge Einstein’s seminal theory of relativity, study the formation of the first stars and galaxies, explore dark energy and vast magnetic fields in the cosmos, and answer the age-old question, 'Are we alone in the Universe?' The SKA will be a collection of various types of antennas, including large dish reflectors and aperture antennas, spread over large distances and working together as an interferometric array. The SKA will be 10,000 times faster and 50 times more sensitive than any existing radio telescope. However, the proximity of adjacent antennas and other systems can result in unwanted inter-coupling, even from low-level emissions, due to currents on cables. This inter-coupling needs to be minimized, which requires identifying the coupling mechanisms and applying measures to improve isolation. On-site radio frequency (RF) coupling investigations are required, but they can only be done after installation. During the design, planning, and installation stages, characterization of the electromagnetic (EM) environment has to be done on scale models and through simulations.

About Customer

The customer in this case is the SKA Organization from Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK, supported by 11 member countries - South Africa, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The SKA project aims to challenge Einstein’s seminal theory of relativity, study the formation of the first stars and galaxies, explore dark energy and vast magnetic fields in the cosmos, and answer the age-old question, 'Are we alone in the Universe?' The SKA will be a collection of various types of antennas, including large dish reflectors and aperture antennas, spread over large distances and working together as an interferometric array. The SKA will be 10,000 times faster and 50 times more sensitive than any existing radio telescope.

Solution

The Research Chair at the University of Stellenbosch focuses on the analysis of both electromagnetic systems and mitigation of radio frequency interference (RFI) between systems. Dr Gideon Wiid and Mr Kuja Stanley Okoth from the EMC Metrology Research and Innovation (EMRIN) group have been working on Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) metrology issues for the SKA. Simulation was, and still is, the only viable option to study the interference characteristics in detail. This requires extensive verification of the computational electromagnetic (CEM) model and measurements on a scale model in an anechoic chamber. FEKO’s state of the art parallel method of moments (MoM) solver was run at the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) in Cape Town and the simulations were completed in a matter of days. For the actual MeerKAT telescope, on-site RFI measurements were conducted using an emission reference source (ERS) that operates from 30-1000 MHz. The validated FEKO model can then be used to do rigorous RFI studies and make design, layout, shielding, and bonding recommendations to mitigate the interference between these extremely sensitive telescopes.

Impact #1	The use of FEKO’s state of the art parallel method of moments (MoM) solver at the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) in Cape Town allowed for the completion of simulations in a matter of days. This enabled the team to study the interference characteristics in detail and make design, layout, shielding, and bonding recommendations to mitigate the interference between these extremely sensitive telescopes. The validated FEKO model can then be used to do rigorous RFI studies. New solvers are continually being added or improved in order to solve future challenges posed by this massive project. Not only has FEKO shown to be invaluable for (RFI) mitigation and lightning protection but also for the design of the receiver, placed at the focus of reflector, and the overall gain calculation of the antenna, taking into consideration effects such as aperture blockage, support struts and deformation of the large structure.

Impact #1

The use of FEKO’s state of the art parallel method of moments (MoM) solver at the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) in Cape Town allowed for the completion of simulations in a matter of days. This enabled the team to study the interference characteristics in detail and make design, layout, shielding, and bonding recommendations to mitigate the interference between these extremely sensitive telescopes. The validated FEKO model can then be used to do rigorous RFI studies. New solvers are continually being added or improved in order to solve future challenges posed by this massive project. Not only has FEKO shown to be invaluable for (RFI) mitigation and lightning protection but also for the design of the receiver, placed at the focus of reflector, and the overall gain calculation of the antenna, taking into consideration effects such as aperture blockage, support struts and deformation of the large structure.

Benefit #1	The SKA will be 10,000 times faster than any existing radio telescope
Benefit #2	The SKA will be 50 times more sensitive than any existing radio telescope
Benefit #3	The SKA's central computer will have the processing power of about one hundred million PCs

Benefit #1

The SKA will be 10,000 times faster than any existing radio telescope

Benefit #2

The SKA will be 50 times more sensitive than any existing radio telescope

Benefit #3

The SKA's central computer will have the processing power of about one hundred million PCs

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Overview

The SKA Radio Telescope: Leveraging IoT for a Better Understanding of the Universe

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit