Evaluating Direct RF Sampling Performance for RFSoC-based Radio-frequency Astronomy Receivers

TL;DR

This paper assesses the performance of RFSoC data converters for direct RF sampling in radio astronomy receivers, highlighting potential simplifications and cost reductions in receiver architecture.

Contribution

It provides preliminary characterization results of RFSoC data converters operating in higher Nyquist zones for direct RF sampling applications.

Findings

Successful initial characterization of RFSoC in higher Nyquist zones

Potential for simplified receiver architecture without mixers

Indications of performance viability for radio astronomy use

Abstract

As the maximum RF input and output frequencies of the integrated data converters in RFSoC increase, it becomes practical to digitize and synthesize RF signals in the majority of C band directly without analogue up and down mixing circuits. The elimination of the mixer circuits can significantly simplify the architecture of the receivers or readouts for radio astronomy telescopes. For the systems with large bandwidth or high channel counts, direct sampling can dramatically reduce the size and cost of overall system. This paper with focus on summarising part of the preliminary characterization results for direct sampling with RFSoC data converters in higher order Nyquist zones.