Microprocessor Implementation of an FFT for Ionospheric VLF Observations

A fast fourier transform algorithm is implemented on a CMOS microprocessor for application to very low-frequency electric fields (<10 kHz) sensed on high-altitude scientific balloons. Two FFT's are calculated simultaneously by associating them with conjugate symmetric and conjugate antisymmetric results. One goal of the system was to detect spectral signatures associated with fast time variations present in natural signals such as whistlers and chorus. Although a full evaluation of the system was not possible for operational reasons, a measure of the system's success has been defined and evaluated.