A Data-Taking System for Planetary Radar Applications

TL;DR

This paper presents a detailed design and implementation of a high-speed data-taking system for planetary radar applications, successfully deployed at major observatories, enabling extensive data collection for planetary research.

Contribution

It introduces a novel sampling system capable of recording complex voltages at 20 MHz, installed at key observatories, and demonstrates its long-term operational success.

Findings

Enabled hundreds of data sets for planetary radar research

Successfully operated at multiple major observatories

Supports high-speed complex voltage sampling

Abstract

Most planetary radar applications require recording of complex voltages at sampling rates of up to 20 MHz. I describe the design and implementation of a sampling system that has been installed at the Arecibo Observatory, Goldstone Solar System Radar, and Green Bank Telescope. After many years of operation, these data-taking systems have enabled the acquisition of hundreds of data sets, many of which still await publication.