Radio frequency interference (RFI) analysis on dynamic spectum at selected callisto stations using kurtosis analysis

Abstract

The Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) nowadays becomes a serious problem and crucial issue in the radio astronomy observation. Compact Astronomical Low-Cost Instrument for Spectroscopy in Transportable Observatories (CALLISTO) is a worldwide network of spectrometer system for the solar activity monitoring. The detection of solar radio bursts are being interrupted due to RFI as which these stations are held on the ground. Since RFI signals are being detected from surrounding, this gives inaccurate data for ground base station observations. RFI sources are mostly come from man-made devices. This research is about the analysis of RFI level at selected CALLISTO stations using Kurtosis Analysis. Data from Banting, Sumedang, Ooty and Daejeon stations for two months ( 45-870MHz) that contain solar burst and no solar burst had been selected. The data obtained, one per 15 minutes of observation with the total 11520 data have been analysed for all stations. The kurtosis value is then compared with the population density to get the relationship between the population density and the RFI level. The RFI will affect the solar burst appearance in the dynamic spectrum. The highest average of kurtosis values indicates the lowest of radio frequency interference at these sites.