Using radio-induced fluorescence to determine the horizontal structure of ion layers in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

Paul A. Bernhardt; Natalia A. Gondarenko; Parvez N. Guzdar; Joseph D. Huba; S. L. Ossakow; Frank T. Djuth; C. A. Tepley; Michael P. Sulzer; Ludmila Kagan; M. C. Kelley

doi:10.1117/12.454263

30 January 2002 Using radio-induced fluorescence to determine the horizontal structure of ion layers in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

Paul A. Bernhardt, Natalia A. Gondarenko, Parvez N. Guzdar, Joseph D. Huba, S. L. Ossakow, Frank T. Djuth, C. A. Tepley, Michael P. Sulzer, Ludmila Kagan, M. C. Kelley

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4485, Optical Spectroscopic Techniques, Remote Sensing, and Instrumentation for Atmospheric and Space Research IV; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.454263
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Two-dimensional images of Sporadic-E layers have been produced using a new technique called radio induced fluorescence (RIF). This technique makes the ion layers glow when being stimulated by high power radio waves. Normally the ion-layers do not radiate visible emissions. Experiments on January 1998 at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico have shown that the layers can be made to glow at 557.7 nm and other wavelengths by illuminating them with radio waves at 3.175 MHz with effective radiated powers of 80 megawatts. The regions of the sporadic-E layers that have electron densities greater than the critical density for reflection of the radio waves emit electrons that collide with and excite atmospheric atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen. A charge-coupled-device (CCD) imager located on the ground is used to capture images of the glowing E-region structures. The camera exposure times were in the range of 15 to 45 seconds. The images obtained using this technique show a wide variety of structures in the sporadic-E layers. Some layers cover the 15 x 30 km region illuminated by the radio wave beam. Other layers show strong modulation of the E-region by neutral wind instabilities. Two-dimensional computer simulations of the coupling between neutral wind turbulence and the ion layers simulate the structure in the images.

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Paul A. Bernhardt, Natalia A. Gondarenko, Parvez N. Guzdar, Joseph D. Huba, S. L. Ossakow, Frank T. Djuth, C. A. Tepley, Michael P. Sulzer, Ludmila Kagan, and M. C. Kelley "Using radio-induced fluorescence to determine the horizontal structure of ion layers in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere", Proc. SPIE 4485, Optical Spectroscopic Techniques, Remote Sensing, and Instrumentation for Atmospheric and Space Research IV, (30 January 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.454263

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KEYWORDS

Ions

Plasma

Oxygen

Airglow

Luminescence

Modulation

Thermosphere

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