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Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) is one of the most sensitive magnetic field sensors in the world. These instruments can only be used optimally for geomagnetic research if placed far from man-made magnetic signals. Moving the SQUID to a remote site leads to several infrastructure-related problems including construction, power, data connectivity, and cryogenic cooling. This thesis investigates possible solutions to these problems and develops guidelines for designing future remote SQUID stations. A remote SQUID observatory typically consists of three structures placed approximately 40 m apart. These include: the control room, which houses all computers and supporting electronics, the power hut, which contains a regulated battery bank charged from a solar array that delivers DC power to the rest of the system, and the SQUID hut itself, which is thermally insulated by cavity walls. The SQUID is placed on an isolation pillar that decouples it from structural vibrations due to wind and outside temperature uctuations. The temperature inside the SQUID hut is also monitored as changes in temperature can result in small deformations of the SQUID mounting system which lead to changes in the SQUID's orientation. The changes in the orientation will appear as slow varying magnetic signals on the SQUID output. In principle, it is possible to compensate for these variations through post-processing. The SQUID needs to be cryogenically cooled to function. The SANSA SQUID is a High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) and operates using liquid nitrogen. Immersion cooling is used, as it is the simplest method, and produces the least amount of mechanical and electrical noise. Over time the liquid nitrogen will evaporate and needs to be replaced without significantly disrupting SQUID operations. A simple yet effective pumping scheme was developed that can transfer approximately 1.8 litres of liquid nitrogen every minute from a refill dewar. Monitoring of the liquid nitrogen level is an important management tool for a remote station, as refilling will be the primary reason for technicians to visit the site. The monitoring is achieved by placing the SQUID dewar on a specially designed non-magnetic load cell scale. The scale has been designed to limit the amount of tilting as the weight changes since this would also change the SQUID orientation. When a HTS SQUID is cooled in a large magnetic field, such as the Earth's field, Abrikosov vortices are likely to form in the superconducting material. As these vortices jump between pinning sites in the material, they increase the 1/f noise of the device and have been found to reduce the stability of the SQUID. Metal shields can be used to reduce the magnetic field, but are awkward to use and also reduce the magnitude of the signals of interest. In this thesis, a shielding method using Helmholtz coils is investigated. These coils are relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and do not attenuate the signals of interest. It was found that by cooling the SQUID in the reduced magnetic field, generated by the Helmholtz coils, the stability of the SQUID can be improved significantly. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die SQUID is die mees sensitiewe magneetveld sensors in die wêreld. Hierdie instrument kan slegs optimaal vir geometriese navorsing gebruik word indien dit ver van mensgemaakte magneetvelde opgestel word. Om die SQUID in 'n afgesonderde area op te stel veroorsaak verskeie probleme met betrekking tot infrastruktuur sover dit konstruksie, kragvoorsiening, en kriogeniese afkoeling aangaan. Hierdie tesis ondersoek moontlike oplossings vir die probleme en riglyne te ontwikkel vir die oprigting van toekomstige SQUID stasies. 'n Tipiese afgele SQUID observatorium bestaan gewoonlik uit 3 strukture wat 40m van mekaar opgestel is. Die beheerkamer bevat al die elektroniese apperaat, die kragkamer bevat 'n stel gereguleerde batterye wat deur sonpanele helaai word en DS krag verskaf aan die stasie en die SQUID-kamer wat deur middel van spoumure teen hitte gensoleer is. Die SQUID word op 'n gesoleerde pilaar geplaas om die invloed van vibrasies a.g.v. wind en wisselende buite temperature te verminder. Die temperatuur binne die SQUID kamer word ook noukeurig gemonitor aangesien wisseling in temperatuur geringe vervorming van die SQUID se montering kan veroorsaak wat 'n verandering van die SQUID se orintasie veroorsaak. Hierdie veranderings sal waargeneem word as stadige varirende sein in die SQUID se lesings. In beginsel is dit moontlik om vir dit te kompenseer deur middel van naprosessering. Die SQUID moet kriogenies afgekoel word om te funksioneer. Die SANSA SQUID is 'n Ho Temperatuur Supergeleier (HTS) en vloeibare stikstof word gebruik vir verkoeling. Afkoeling deur middel van indompeling word gebruik omdat dit die kleinste hoeveelheid meganiese en elektroniese versteuring veroorsaak. Die vloeibare stikstof verdamp mettertyd em moet vervang word sonder om die werking van die SQUID merkbaar te onderbreek. 'n Eenvoudige tog effektiewe oorpompstelsel is ontwikkel wat ongeveer 1.8 liter/minuut vloeibare stikstof vanuit 'n hervullings vakuum es kan oorpomp. Die meting van die vloeibare stikstof vlak is 'n belangrike aspek van die instandhouding van 'n afgele stasie aangesien dit die hoof rede sal wees vir tegnici om die perseel te besoek. Die meting word bewerkstellig deur die plasing van die SQUID se vakuum es op 'n spesiale ontwerpte, nie-magnetiese vrag sel skaal. Hierdie skaal is ontwerp om die mate van kanteling te beperk aangesien dit die orentasie van die SQUID kan benvloed. Wanneer 'n HTS SQUID binne in 'n groot magnetiese veld afgekoel word, is dit waarskynlik dat Abrikosov vortekse in die supergeleidende materiaal sal ontstaan. Soos hierdie vortekse rondspring in die materiaal vermeerder dit die 1/f ruis en daar is gevind dat die stabiliteit van die SQUID nadelig benvloed word. Metaal skilde kan gebruik word om die invloed van die magneetveld te verminder, maar is ongerie ik om te gebruik en verminder ook die sterkte van die seine wat waarneem wil word. In hierdie tesis word Helmholtz spoele ondersoek as 'n afskermings metode. Hierdie spoele is eenvoudig om te vervaardig en verminder nie die sterkte van waarneembare seine nie. Daar is gevind dat die stabiliteit van die SQUID merkbaar verbeter word deur afkoeling in 'n lae magnetiese veld soos bewerkstellig deur die Helmholtz spoele.

Goal of this thesis is to develop portable monitoring station for radio spectrum monitoring and its controlling application for use by Czech Telecommunication Office. The station is based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) and capable of monitoring in the range of 1 MHz - 6 GHz. Developed application controls not only the SDR but also the external RF unit (including choice of receiving antenna, filter, optional amplification/attenuation and azimuth of antenna rotator). Measurement processed by computer and displayed graphically in form of spectrum diagram and waterfall diagram. Furthermore, the application will perform spectral measurement in compliance with requirements of International Telecommunication Union. The application is also capable of recording into the file and of analyzing historical data from the previous measurement.

The thesis describes methods for spectrum monitoring, which are used by the Czech telecommunication office. The thesis describes a design of an RF unit for a portable monitoring station and its potential use. The RF unit consists of several devices, which are connected. Devices like an antenna, a rotator, a rotator control unit, coaxial switches, an amplifier and attenuator were chosen as commercially available devices. It is also described, why were these devices chosen. Other devices such as filters, a control unit for the RF unit and a power supply were designed. The RF unit is controlled by a computer. A software for spectrum monitoring contains a graphical user interface for the RF unit control.