TranQuiL System Revolutionizes Wireless Interference Detection in Radio Quiet Zones

A new system called TranQuiL has been developed to detect and locate wireless interference in Radio Quiet Zones (RQZs). These areas protect sensitive radio telescopes from signals like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The research, published in Radio Science, shows major improvements over existing methods.

The study was led by A. Bansal, M. Ibrahim, K. Yuan, Y. Song, B. Iannucci, and S. Kumar. Their system, TranQuiL, extends detection ranges significantly—up to 950 metres for Wi-Fi and 450 metres for Bluetooth. This is a notable increase compared to current solutions.

TranQuiL also improves localization accuracy. Tests show a median error of just 13.2 metres when pinpointing interference sources. The paper, edited by Jothiram Vivekanandan, appears in volume 61 of *Radio Science* under the doi: 10.1029/2025RS008237. The work is part of AGU's Special Collection 'Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) 2024'. RQZs are critical for shielding radio telescopes from unwanted terrestrial signals, and TranQuiL aims to make these zones more effective.

The system offers better efficiency in interference mitigation, with longer detection ranges and sharper accuracy. Its adoption could help maintain the integrity of RQZs, ensuring clearer observations for radio astronomy. The full study is now available in Radio Science.