Collaborative Research: CEDAR: Flickering and Auroral Roar

这是美国空军学院(USAFA)和阿拉斯加大学费尔班克斯地球物理研究所(GI)的研究人员和学生之间的合作。该项目是一个为期两年的多仪器观测方案，目的是确定极光中观测到的光学闪烁与极光咆哮的射电发射之间的关系。光学闪烁在活跃的离散电弧中很常见。闪烁的斑点是横向振动的发光柱，往往发生在极光弧底边缘。闪烁频率通常在2-20赫兹之间，一个闪烁元件的寿命为几秒。极光咆哮是在极光F区产生的一种频带受限的射电发射，频率接近电子回旋频率的2倍和3倍。调制频段与闪烁极光的调制频段非常相似，尽管还没有与闪烁极光本身建立联系，但这些类型的射电发射已被命名为闪烁极光咆哮。该项目将在阿拉斯加的卡克托维克进行光学和无线电联合观测，以解决两种极光发射中的闪烁之间的联系问题。在阿拉斯加北海岸的卡克托维克，地球物理研究所有一个光学天文台，在那里可以经常观察到闪烁的极光。在USAFA和GI开发的新光学仪器将在Kaktovik部署和运行。此外，达特茅斯学院目前在国家科学基金会(NSF)的支持下在那里运行一台数字中频干涉仪，并与首席研究员(PI)建立了关于该仪器的合作，以提供本研究所需的射电观测。该项目还将利用已经计划的几次火箭发射，这些火箭将从卡克托维克上空的高层大气提供现场测量。USAFA的本科生学员以及GI的一名研究生将参与该项目。

This is collaboration between researchers and students at United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and University of Alaska at Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute (GI). The project is a 2-year multi-instrument observational program to determine the relationship between optical flickering observed in aurora and radio emissions from auroral roars. Optical flickering is common in active discrete arcs. The flickering spots are laterally vibrating columns of luminosity which tend to occur on the bottom edges of auroral arcs. The flicker frequency is typically between 2-20 Hz, with a lifetime of one flickering element of a few seconds. Auroral roar is a band limited radio emission generated in the auroral F-region at frequencies near 2 and 3 times the electron cyclotron frequency. The modulation frequency band is very similar to that of flickering aurora, and even though no connection has yet been made with flickering aurora itself, these types of radio emissions have been named "flickering auroral roar". This project will conduct joint optical and radio observations at Kaktovik Alaska to address the question of the link between flickering in the two types of auroral emissions. At Kaktovik, on the north coast of Alaska, the Geophysical Institute has an optical observatory where flickering aurora is commonly observed. New optical instruments developed at both USAFA and GI will be deployed and operated at Kaktovik. In addition, Dartmouth College currently operates a digital Medium Frequency Interferometer there with support from National Science Foundation (NSF) and collaboration with the principal investigator (PI) on this instrument has been established to provide the radio observations required for this study. The project also will take advantage of a number of already planned rocket launches that will provide in-situ measurements from the upper atmosphere over Kaktovik. Under-graduate cadets from USAFA as well as a graduate student from GI will participate in the project.