A signal dedispersion algorithm for imaging-based transient searches
一种用于基于成像的瞬变搜索的信号消色散算法
Dedispersion is the computational process of correcting for the frequency-dependent time delay affecting a radio signal that propagates through the interstellar and intergalactic media. It is a crucial component of transient search pipelines that maximises the signal-to-noise ratio, especially when targeting highly dispersed signals: for instance, pulsar emissions making their way through a dense cloud of ionised gas, and fast radio bursts travelling cosmological distances. This paper introduces Streaming high Time-Resolution Imaging DEdispersion (STRIDE), a novel dedispersion algorithm to generate per-pixel dedispersed time series from high time and frequency resolution interferometric images. Unlike straightforward approaches to image dedispersion, STRIDE does not involve expensive manipulation of the input data layout, such as explicitly building dynamic spectra or shifting images. Furthermore, it is the first dedispersion algorithm to partition a dispersive sweep over the time dimension, in addition to frequency. As a consequence, images corresponding to the entire time span of the target dispersive delay are not required all at once. Instead, the algorithm works with an arbitrarily-sized subset of images at a time, adopting an incremental, streaming-based approach to dedispersion. In evaluating STRIDE on the presented test case, it is shown that the minimum memory requirement is reduced by 97.9%, going from 684.5GB to 14.4GB. As current and future generations of widefield interferometers increasingly turn to imaging techniques for detection and localisation of radio transients, STRIDE positions itself as a strong alternative to traditional dedispersion methodologies. It arguably is the only viable option for imaging-based searches with low-frequency instruments such as the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and the low-frequency Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Low).
展开 ▾首次将消色散扫描沿时间维分块,以流式增量方式处理图像集,无需显式构建动态谱或平移图像;在 MWA 测试中最低内存从 684.5 GB 降至 14.4 GB(降低 97.9%),成功检测到蟹状星云脉冲及 B0525+21。
传统消色散以动态谱为输入,适合波束形成搜索;图像域管线若直接重排为动态谱代价过高。FDMT 曾提出在成像流程中重排或可见度空间两条路线 Zackay+ 2017,CRACO 已在 ASKAP 采用可见度空间实现 Wang+ 2025,而 BLINK 展示了 MWA 的 GPU 高时间分辨率成像流水线 Di Pietrantonio+ 2025。本文的 STRIDE 首次将色散扫描沿时间维分块,通过流式迭代和环形缓冲增量生成逐像素、逐 DM 的消色散时间序列,突破低频大色散延迟下的内存瓶颈,使 MWA/SKA-Low 的成像瞬变搜索成为可能。未来随 SKA-Low 更大视场、更高分辨率和更大 DM 搜索范围,仍需在算力与功耗上继续优化;该方法可作为通用干涉仪瞬变搜索后端的基础。
预印本 2026-03-03 · 刊出 2026-07-21 · 收录 2026-08-20