HyperSpeed FFT IP core delivered to Arizona Radio Observatory

RFEL is supplying one of its HyperSpeed FFT IP cores to the Arizona Radio Observatory at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. They are developing a new high performance radio astronomy spectrometer system where their core forms a key component to improve sideband separation in their heterodyne receivers. To support the receiver's wide signal bandwidth, the core utilises parallelism to operate at a high input data rate of over 10 Giga samples per second. "Radio astronomy is a perfect example of how our expertise can provide solutions that cannot be found elsewhere," explained Dr. Alex Kuhrt, RFEL's CEO. "Radio telescopes generate huge amounts of data that have to be processed without loss to extract signals. This requires specialist skills to create solutions that can handle this amount of data whilst retaining the mathematical precision. Our HyperSpeed FFT core is configured to match the demanding research needs of the ARO giving them the throughput and performance required." Robert Freund, principal engineer at ARO, concluded, "RFEL are real experts at providing cutting edge solutions that push the boundaries, enabling us to create more sensitive solutions. Standard off-the-shelf products just cannot deliver the performances that RFEL are able to achieve. The ARO operates two radio telescopes at millimetre wavelengths. Our facility receivers now cover the seven atmospheric windows from 4mm to 0.4mm and are used for both continuum and spectral line observations. The new wideband spectrometer will be a facility instrument that can be used with any receiver."