Incoherent Scatter Radar Studies of the Equatorial Ionosphere at Jicamarca

该项目旨在提高Jicamara非相干散射雷达对赤道F区观测的能力，方法是开发一种基于光谱拟合和磁离子差相测量的新的观测/信号处理模式：在雷达波束垂直于B的情况下，用正交偶极子对和一对南北显示的偶极子阵列收集的O模和X模非相干散射回波的自谱和互谱将被拟合到正演理论模型中，以推断F区等离子体漂移、密度以及电子和离子温度，时间和高度分辨率分别为5分钟和15公里。反演程序还将利用同时收集的电离层探空数据，并进一步能够在赤道扩散F条件下测量F区等离子体密度。该项目将为研究生提供一个关于电离层传播和非相干散射理论的极好的培训基地，并将进一步为在相对未探索的参数制度(小方位角)下对F区非相干散射理论进行严格测试提供机会。

The project aims to improve the capabilities of the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar for equatorial F-region observations via the development of a new observing/signal-processing mode based on spectral fitting and magneto-ionic differential-phase measurements: With radar beams pointed perpendicular to B, self- and cross-spectra of O- and X-mode incoherent scatter returns collected with orthogonal dipole pairs and a pair of north-south displayed dipole arrays will be fitted to a forward theory model to infer F-region plasma drifts, densities, and electron and ion temperatures with 5 min and 15 km time and height resolutions. The inversion procedure will also make use of simultaneously collected ionosonde data and furthermore will be capable of F-region plasma density measurements during equatorial spread F conditions. The project will constitute an excellent training ground for graduate students on ionospheric propagation and incoherent scatter theories and will furthermore provide an opportunity for stringent tests of the F-region incoherent scatter theory in a relatively unexplored parameter regime (small aspect angles).