Design and Prototype Development of an Advanced, Modular Incoherent-Scatter Radar

研究人员将对一个可重新定位的大气观测站进行设计研究，该观测站由一个大功率、相控阵、非相干散射雷达组成。当前的技术已经使现代非相干散射雷达的设计发生了重大变化，并提供了可重新定位系统的可能性。使用分布式固态功率放大器可以实现模块化设计，随着技术的进步易于升级，并且可以重新配置。该研究将确定最佳设计方法，包括对可运输性、成本和能力的权衡评估。拟议的工作还包括建造原型雷达，该原型雷达将被组装、操作、拆卸、重新组装和再次操作，以测试设计的可重新定位方面。设计研究的结果将提供最终系统的基本规格和初步建造和搬迁的费用概算。除了作为可重新定位天文台的基础之外，这些新的雷达单元可能是未来所有非相干散射雷达的基础技术。目前美国的非相干散射雷达都是基于二战技术，维护它们所需的硬件和工程专业知识越来越难找到。这些新的、低功率的装置可能会成为这些重要的大气科学设施的未来潮流。

The investigators will conduct a design study for a relocatable atmospheric observatory consisting of a high-power, phased-array, incoherent scatter radar. Current technology has allowed a significant change in the design of modern incoherent scatter radars and offers the possibility of a relocatable system. The use of distributed solid state power amplifiers enables designs that are modular, easy to upgrade as technology advances, and reconfigurable. The study will determine the best design approach, including an evaluation of tradeoffs in transportability, cost, and capabilities. The proposed work also includes construction of a prototype radar which will be assembled, operated, dismantled, reassembled, and operated again to test the relocatable aspects of the design. The results of the design study will provide the basic specifications of the final system and cost estimates for initial construction and relocation. Besides being the basis for a relocatable observatory, these new radar units may be the technology upon which all future incoherent scatter radars are based. The current U.S. incoherent scatter radars are all based on WWII technology, and the hardware and engineering expertise needed to maintain them are becoming harder to find. These new, low-power units could prove to be the wave of the future for these important atmospheric sciences facilities.