SPADE: A Compact Phased Array for Solar Activity Monitoring

The Small Phased Array DEmonstrator (SPADE) is a compact phased array spectrograph designed for monitoring solar activity in the decameter range, which is crucial for understanding solar physics and space weather. Unlike existing phased arrays, SPADE's operations, including Sun tracking and spectra production, are entirely digital and rely on open-source library software and commercial generic software-defined radio receivers. The instrument's high temporal and frequency resolution enables the study of turbulence in the coronal medium and propagation effects affecting radio waves, areas previously accessible only to larger, non-solar dedicated phased arrays. SPADE's observations of the Sun and the jovian magnetosphere between September and December 2024 demonstrate its capabilities. The use of open-source software and commercial components makes SPADE a potentially cost-effective solution for solar monitoring. This technology could be used to improve space weather forecasting and protect satellites from solar flares.

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