MRI: Acquisition of Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR)

研究人员将通过获取一台将部署在阿根廷拉普拉塔射电天文研究所的先进模块非相干散射雷达(AMICR)来创建一个全球尺度的电离层等离子体实验室。阿根廷选定地点的雷达视场包括波多黎各阿雷西博观测站的磁性共轭点。该研究仪器将被称为阿根廷电离层雷达实验站(AIRES)，它将与阿雷西博天文台一起，能够进行地球电离层的半球间测量。阿雷西博ISR是国家天文学和电离层中心(NAIC)的一部分，NAIC是由康奈尔大学运营的国家研究中心。阿雷西博的一个电离层加热设施不久将投入使用，以便能够利用阿雷西博和阿根廷的非相干散射雷达进行积极的电离层实验，以进行诊断测量。该计划的目标是：1)支持购置最先进的仪器，以改善科学家、工程师、本科生和研究生接触和更多使用现代研究和研究培训仪器的机会；2)在阿根廷实施科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)领域的研究培训计划，主要针对研究生和本科生以及科学教师；以及3)利用拟议的AIRES和阿雷西博天文台设施，加强和支持大气科学和行星科学的研究。这个全球尺度的电离层等离子体实验室将提供对加热器相互作用体积中电离层性质的独特测量，以及对未受干扰的电离层的前所未有的共轭观测。这些将支持广泛的研究，包括大气波和层的物理，以及低纬等离子体的不稳定性和不规则性。安装的系统将为波多黎各、美国和阿根廷的大学带来最先进的雷达技术，并配备可访问工具，使来自许多研究社区的学生随时可以使用该系统。该项目的成果将通过同行评议的期刊、会议和出版物以及通过在波多黎各和阿根廷组织国际学校来传播。

The investigators will create a Global Scale Ionospheric Plasma laboratory by acquiring an Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR) to be deployed at the Institute of Radio Astronomy in La Plata, Argentina. The field of view of the radar at the selected site in Argentina includes the magnetically conjugate point to the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The research instrument will be called the Argentine Ionospheric Radar Experiment Station (AIRES) which, together with the Arecibo Observatory, will be able to perform inter-hemispheric measurements of the Earth's ionosphere. The Arecibo ISR is part of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC), a national research center operated by Cornell University. An ionospheric heating facility will shortly become operational at Arecibo to enable active ionospheric experiments using the incoherent scatter radars at Arecibo and Argentina to make diagnostic measurements. The objectives of this program are: 1) support the acquisition of a state-of-the-art instrumentation that improves access to, and increased use of, modern research and research training instrumentation by scientists, engineers, and undergraduate and graduate students; 2) To implement a research training program in Argentina in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields mainly in Astronomy and Atmospheric Science for graduate and undergraduate pre-college students as well as science teachers; and 3) to enhance and support research in Atmospheric Science and Planetary Science using both the proposed AIRES and the Arecibo Observatory facilities. This Global Scale Ionospheric Plasma laboratory will provide unique measurements of ionospheric properties in the heater interaction volume, as well as never-before-attempted conjugate observations of the undisturbed ionosphere. These will support a wide range of studies, including the physics of atmospheric waves and layers, and low-latitude plasma instabilities and irregularities. The installed system will bring state-of-the-art radar technology to Puerto Rico, U.S. and Argentinean Universities, with accessibility tools that make it readily available to students from many research communities. The results of the project will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conferences, meetings, and publications, as well as through the organization of international schools both in Puerto Rico and Argentina.