Collaborative Research: Meteor Plasma Formation and Dynamics with Implication for Radar Measurements

地球上层大气密集地分布着分子、原子和电离的流星。这些粒子对于维持E区电离层（~90-150 km）的电导率很重要。它们可以用无线电和光学方法来探测，因此提供了关于上层大气状况和它们起源的地外环境的大量信息。然而，目前对总大气输入量的估计仅精确到大约两个数量级以内。改进这样的估计是很重要的，因为流星化学对地球的影响从地表以上大约150公里一直到冰芯。这项研究将应用雷达数据和第一性原理计算机模型来追踪电离层中流星等离子体的演变。该项目将资助一名全日制研究生和一名本科生。首席调查员（pi）的工作将产生对地球上层大气贡献最大的流星类型的知识。这些信息对太空科学家、工程师和天文学家都很重要。航天器设计者需要知道粒子轨道和质量的分布，以减轻潜在的危险。流星种群特征提供了对外太阳系演化和组成的更好理解。pi和联合pi将继续努力，通过扩展到K-12学校，与更大的社区分享他们对空间和流星科学的知识和热情。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Earth's upper atmosphere is densely populated by molecular, atomic and ionized meteors. These particles are important for maintaining the conductivity of the E region ionosphere (~90-150 km). They can be sensed using radio and optical methods, and therefore provide a great deal of information about the state of the upper atmosphere and the extraterrestrial environments of their origin. However, current estimates of total meteoric input are accurate only to within approximately two orders of magnitude. It is important to improve upon such estimates, since meteor chemistry affects Earth from roughly 150 km above the surface all the way down to the ice cores. The research will apply radar data and first-principles computer models to trace the evolution of meteor plasma in the ionosphere. The project will support a full-time graduate student and an undergraduate. The Principal Investigators (PIs)' work will yield knowledge of the types of meteors that contribute most to Earth's upper atmosphere. This information is important to Space scientists, engineers, and astronomers. Spacecraft designers need to know the distribution of particle orbits and masses in order to mitigate potential hazards. Meteor population characteristics provides greater understanding of the evolution and composition of the outer solar system. The PIs and co-PI will continue their efforts to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about space and meteor science with the larger community through outreach to K-12 schools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.