The ASKAP RFI environment as seen through BETA

Abstract

We present the results of a radio frequency interference (RFI) study conducted using the Boolardy Engineering Testing Array (BETA) phased array feeds (PAFs) built for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and located at the same site as the Australian component of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We first provide a brief overview of the radio quiet zone (RQZ) set up around the Murchison Radio Observatory (MRO), followed by a summary of the RFI signals found, some of which originating from well below the radio horizon and propagated via tropospheric ducting. We conclude with an outlook of work to be done in the next step to remain fully RFI aware, enabling us to extract the best possible science through application of RFI mitigation techniques as well as RQZ compliance and environment monitoring using an array of dedicated receiver systems.