Auroral Imaging Program

这笔拨款用于使用超灵敏成像系统来记录和解释极光亮度的快速变化模式。这些数据是用一种改进的电视摄像机拍摄的，因此，在不到5秒的时间内，颜色和形状的变化可以被详细分析。在电场的影响下，电流路径在地球磁场中移动，电导率的变化部分是由电流本身引起的，这些复杂的形状就产生了。螺旋和脉动极光等现象是等离子体不稳定性的例子，它们在宇宙中无处不在，但可以通过地面成像和光谱以及来自扑克平台和斯瓦尔巴德极光观测站的其他设备进行详细研究。这些影像的录象带作为教育材料提供，并作为展示自然环境之美而广受欢迎。

This grant is for the use of ultra-sensitive imaging systems to record and interpret the rapidly changing patterns of auroral luminosity. The data is taken with a modified TV camera, so that changes of color and shape in a fraction of s second can be later analyzed in detail. The complex shapes arise as current paths move in the earth's magnetic field under the influence of electric fields and changes in conductivity caused in part by the currents themselves. Phenomena such as spirals and pulsating aurorae are examples of plasma instabilities that are ubiquitous throughout the cosmos, but which can be studied in some detail with ground based imaging and spectrographic and other equipment from the Poker Flat and Svalbad Auroral Observatories. Videotape recordings of these images are being made available as educational material, and have been widely enjoyed as demonstrating the beauty of the natural environment.