Collaborative Research: Establishing an Iron Resonance Wind-Temperature Lidar at High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) for Active Studies of Polar Aeronomy

该奖项支持阿拉斯加费尔班克斯大学（UAF）、康奈尔大学、通用技术软件公司（GATS）、科罗拉多丹佛大学（CU Denver）、弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学（VTech）以及德国航空航天中心（Deutsches Zentrum f<e:1> r Luft- und Raumfahrt）的研究人员之间的合作。DLR)建立了一个最先进的固态铁共振风和温度激光雷达系统（IRWTL），并在位于阿拉斯加加科纳（62°N, 145°W）的高频主动极光研究计划（HAARP）设施中运行该仪器。该仪器将用于与HAARP的电离层研究仪器（IRI）进行一系列协调观测，该仪器将以三个主要加热实验为中心以运动模式运行。北极大气和亚极光区是了解大气和地球空间等离子体中性和动力耦合的天然实验室。激光雷达将测量离子中性碰撞频率的轮廓，用于从IRI HF雷达数据中确定d区电子密度轮廓。IRWTL和IRI协同测量的第二个应用是基于激光雷达对极地中间层云的观测和极地中间层夏季回波的雷达观测来研究尘埃等离子体中的电荷转移机制。这些协调测量还将利用雷达人工周期性不规则技术研究e区风的动力强迫。IRWTL和IRI的联合观测将用于研究d区结构，这是由IRI设施产生的ELF/VLF波检测收集的数据确定的。这些研究将产生各种更广泛的影响，包括研究等离子体物理、气溶胶、流体动力学的基本过程，同时推进无线电科学和遥感技术和技术。该奖项将支持研究生和两名博士后的研究培训和专业发展。IRWTL将支持澳大本科生和访问学生参与科学研究和工程项目。这项努力促进了三所大学、一家航空航天公司和一家国家航天中心之间的合作。IRWTL激光雷达系统将增强HAARP研究基础设施，作为最先进的固态共振激光雷达系统，使用频率稳定的Nd:YAG激光器，实现铁共振发射波长为372 nm的大气照明。在地磁活动期间，极光电喷流和极光降水发生在HAARP站点的上空，使高频加热实验在更高的海拔范围内进行。IRWTL的观测将产生全年白天和夜间中层低层热层的新风和温度测量结果；这些结果将与位于阿拉斯加中部的Poker Flat钠共振风和温度激光雷达系统获得的类似风和温度观测结果进行比较，以寻找极地中间层风中大规模结构的证据。这项活动的观察、分析和结果将有助于国家和国际计划，包括雪松和SCOSTEP计划。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。

The award supports a collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Cornell University, G &amp; A Technical Software Incorporated (GATS), the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VTech), and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) to build a state-of-the-art solid-state iron resonance wind and temperature lidar system (IRWTL) and to operate this instrument at the high-frequency active auroral research program (HAARP) facility located in Gakona, Alaska (62°N, 145°W). This instrument will be used to conduct a series of coordinated observations with the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI) at HAARP that will be operated in campaign mode centering upon three major heating experiments. The Arctic atmosphere and the subauroral region are a natural laboratory for understanding plasma-neutral and dynamical coupling in the atmosphere and geospace. The lidar will measure the profile of the ion-neutral collision frequency needed for the determination of D-region electron density profiles from IRI HF radar data. A second application of coordinated IRWTL and IRI measurements is aimed at the investigation of the charge transfer mechanisms in dusty plasmas based on lidar observations of polar mesospheric clouds and radar observations of polar mesospheric summer echoes. These coordinated measurements will also study the dynamical forcing of E-region winds using the technique of radar artificial periodic irregularities. The combined IRWTL and IRI observations will be used to study D-region structure as determined from the data collected from the detection of ELF/VLF waves generated by the IRI facility. These studies will have a variety of broader impacts including the study of fundamental processes in plasma physics, aerosols, fluid dynamics while advancing radio science and remote sensing technology and techniques. The award will support research training and professional development of graduate students and two postdoctoral associates. The IRWTL will support the participation of both UAF undergraduate students and visiting students in scientific investigations and engineering projects. This effort fosters collaboration between three universities, an aerospace company, and a national space center.The IRWTL lidar system will enhance the HAARP research infrastructure as a state-of-the-art solid state resonance lidar system using a frequency-stabilized Nd:YAG laser to achieve atmospheric illumination at the iron resonance emission wavelength at 372 nm. During geomagnetically active periods the auroral electrojet and auroral precipitation occur overhead at the HAARP site facilitating HF heating experiments to higher altitude ranges than otherwise would be the case. The IRWTL observations will yield new wind and temperature measurements in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere in both daytime and nighttime throughout the year; these results would be compared with similar wind and temperature observations obtained at the Poker Flat sodium resonance wind and temperature lidar system located in central Alaska to search for evidence of large scale structure in polar mesospheric winds. The observations, analyses and results of this activity will contribute to national and international programs, including CEDAR and SCOSTEP programs.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.