Real time data acquisition in SETI

Abstract

NASA's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence presents unique challenges for data acquisition and analysis. During the proposed Microwave Observing Project each MultiChannel Spectrum Analyser (MCSA) system will process more than 60 million bytes of information every second. To prevent a backlog of data and to avoid delays in the confirmation of potential signals, the data will be processed in real time with special purpose hardware and software. The software is required to control and coordinate the hardware systems and the data that they produce. The performance of the system must be continuously monitored to assure that the search achieves maximum sensitivity, minimum contamination by Radio Frequency Interference, and optimal use of observing resources. We have developed a prototype data acquisition system that has been used in field tests of a prototype MCSA and software signal detection algorithms. The system, called VERA 2.0, is based on virtually concurrent communication software processes within a single computer. A new version under development will use several independent computers, communicating over a network. Each computer will be responsible for a portion of the data processing. Some techinques of artificial intelligence will be used to evaluate potential signals during the observation.