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A wideband correlator employing a single‐bit digital by analogue multiplication scheme
Author(s) -
Padin S.,
Davis R. J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs021i003p00437
Subject(s) - wideband , sensitivity (control systems) , digital to analog converter , computer science , interferometry , multiplier (economics) , electronic engineering , megabit , optics , electrical engineering , physics , telecommunications , engineering , voltage , economics , macroeconomics
The design details for a 768‐Mbit/s single bit digital by analogue correlator for a wideband interferometer system are given. Design tolerances for a high‐speed 1‐bit digitizer realized using several lower speed converters are presented, and it is shown that the arrangement may be extended to 1200 Mbits/s if a 5% loss in sensitivity can be tolerated. A variable path compensating delay using a high‐speed cyclic memory is described. The operation of a 1‐bit by analogue multiplier is considered in detail and design tolerances for this device are also presented. The measured sensitivity of the correlator, relative to that of a perfect analog system, is 0.77±0.02, which compares well with the predicted value of 0.78. The correlator has been used with the 76‐m Mk 1A and 26‐m MK II radio telescopes at Jodrell Bank to provide a high‐sensitivity, single‐baseline inerferometer.