A 1024−channel digital correlator

Abstract
A 1024−channel digital correlator designed for spectral analysis of radio astronomy signals is described. The correlator has a maximum sampling rate of 20 MHz, allowing it to analyze noise signals with bandwidths up to 10 MHz. Other bandwidths of 5, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, and 0.05 MHz are provided. Quantization mode can be either one−bit or two−bit. Either autocorrelation or cross−correlation functions can be generated. These are Fourier transformed on−line by a PDP−9 computer to generate high resolution power spectra. Subdivision of the correlator into four independent 256−channel units is also possible. Software used with the correlator is briefly described, and some observational results presented.