Simulating high-time resolution radio-telescope observations

Abstract

We describe a new software package for simulating channelised, high-time resolution data streams from radio telescopes. The software simulates data from the telescope and observing system taking into account the observation strategy, receiver system and digitisation. The signatures of pulsars, fast radio bursts and flare stars are modelled, including frequencydependent effects such as scattering and scintillation. We also simulate more generic signals using spline curves and images. Models of radio frequency interference include signals from satellites, terrestrial transmitters and impulsive, broadband signals. The simulated signals can also be injected into real data sets. Uses of this software include the production of machine learning training data sets, development and testing of new algorithms to search for anomalous patterns and to characterise processing pipelines.

SPARKESX: Single-dish PARKES data sets for finding the uneXpected -- A data challenge

“…Our mock "Single-dish PARKES radio telescope for finding the uneXpected (SPARKESX)" dataset was created using the simulateSearch 8 software package (Luo et al 2022). Luo et al (2022) provides general details about the simulation software, which can simulate a range of source types for different observing modes at various telescopes. Here we explicitly apply that software to produce fake observations from the Parkes radio telescope.…”

“…All the simulated data files contain fake radiometer noise. This is modelled (see Section 3.2 of Luo et al 2022) assuming a Gaussian distribution with a specific amplitude derived from an assumed system temperature of 21 K and telescope gain of 0.735 K Jy −1 (e.g., Manchester et al 2001;Keith et al 2010). Events that are dispersed in the interstellar medium are modelled using the arrival time difference, ∆t, between two pulses at frequency, ν:…”

“…If, however, the data volume is not sufficient (or the user wishes to produce simulated data sets relevant for their telescope and observing system) then it is relatively easy to produce further data sets using the parameters of the input signals described in this paper. Details on how to produce the simulations using simulateSearch software are available from Luo et al (2022).…”