Jonathon Kocz

Jonathon Kocz, a PhD student at Mount Stromlo Observatory, is developing methods to suppress and remove radio frequency interference from radio astronomical observations, such as those taken by The Dish at Parkes, NSW.

In much the same way that optical telescopes are built away from light sources that interfere with their ability to see faint stars (such as big cities), astronomers try to build radio telescopes in remote locations to escape from radio interference. As the wireless world develops, these places become harder to find. Satellite interference, for example, can be found in certain frequencies everywhere.

While particular bands in the frequency spectrum are protected, astronomers want to be able to make observations in as many different frequencies as possible. Unfortunately, the signals they are looking for in the sky are generally much, much fainter than terrestrial signals such as mobile phones or digital TV stations.

Using various methods, including making a recording of the interfering signal so it can be subtracted away (i.e. using a reference antenna) and advanced filtering techniques, Kocz works to remove the interference.

Using these techniques, the interference appears to be removed nicely. The trick now, he says, is to establish if it just looks like the interference is removed, or if it actually still leaves a faint trace in the data. Perfecting the techniques for removing the interference but keeping the underlying astronomical data is the ultimate goal of his research.

Kocz, who previously completed an undergraduate degree in engineering at ANU, switched to astronomy "primarily to play with big toys". He is now in the final year of his PhD at Mt Stromlo.