Adaptive IIR-Notch Filter for RFI Suppression in a Radio Detection of Cosmic Rays

Abstract

Radio stations can observe radio signals caused by coherent emissions due to geomagnetic radiation and charge excess processes mainly in the frequency band from 30 to 80 MHz. This range is highly contaminated by human-made radio frequency interference (RFI). In order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, RFI filters are used to suppress this contamination. Infinite impulse response (IIR)-notch filters operate with fixed parameters and suppress several narrow bands. IIR filters are generally potentially unstable due to feedbacks; however, they are much shorter and more power efficient than finite impulse response filters. We implemented an NIOS virtual processor calculating new set of IIR filter coefficients, which are reloaded dynamically on-the-fly. Spectrum analysis of the 30–80-MHz band can also be supported by the Altera IP Cores. The NIOS adjusts the new coefficients of the filter checking whether the poles are inside the unique complex radius (a condition of stability) as well as tuning the width of the notch filter. Practical implementation was tested in the laboratory with signal and pattern generators. Laboratory results are very promising. The IIR filter follows the drifting frequencies over very wide ranges (even 15 MHz for investigated range of 30–80 MHz), keeping a suppression factor on a very high level (≥10). The novelty of this paper is an introduction of the adaptive IIR-notch filter, which has not been used in any previous experiment.