Ionospheric irregularities and their coupling with the magnetosphere and radio wave propagation in and emissions from the ionosphere

这项研究是为了增进对太阳“大气层”与地球高层大气（100公里以上）相互作用的了解。具体来说，我的研究兴趣涉及解释地球高层大气电离层部分发生的自然现象。这种电离介质的成分和动力学由电场和磁场主导，因此表现出与我们熟悉的地球表面中性大气截然不同的行为。 从100公里高度开始，只有火箭或卫星才能直接观测电离层;然而，远程探测这一区域的一种方法是使用无线电和雷达技术。作为实验家，我和我的学生使用这些地面和卫星无线电技术和仪器来测量电离层的组成和动态。 我们刚刚开发和部署了一种新的非常先进的全数字地面甚高频（VHF）雷达，称为ICEBEAR，用于研究电离层的较低部分或E区域。我们还与一个国际雷达物理学家团队合作，他们研究电离层的上部，即F区，使用称为SuperDARN的高频（HF）雷达网络。这些雷达提供有关电离层运动和流动的详细信息，新的ICEBEAR雷达使用先进的雷达技术，比过去做得更好。我们还使用加拿大空间科学卫星（ePOP/RRI）来研究无线电波如何通过电离层传播，从而对其结构提供新的见解。最近，我们开始使用RRI来观察自然发生的无线电发射，例如在近地空间环境中产生的哨声波。 与我的学生密切合作，他们将发展先进的数据分析技能和独立的研究能力，我们将利用这些无线电仪器的能力，以促进对电离层动态和结构的更清晰的理解。 使用ICEBEAR雷达进行的研究将使人们对E区电离层闭合电流之间的耦合有新的认识和理解，这些电流来自上方的磁层，并使人们对散射物理学本身有新的认识和理解。了解电离层中的电子密度对于理解那里的物理至关重要，但很少有测量数据。 我们将改进我们已经开发的一种技术，该技术使用SuperDARN观测来计算在非常大的SuperDARN视场上的电子密度测量。因此，给出了该高度期望的参数的新的和急需的来源。为了实现类似的目标，将利用RRI仪器的极化能力来生成电离层中的电子密度分布和电离层结构。 所有这些研究的直接成果将是学生论文和期刊论文，以及训练有素的物理学家和工程师在学术界或加拿大航天工业工作。

This research is to advance understanding of the interaction of the 'atmosphere' of the Sun with the upper atmosphere (above 100 km) of the Earth. Specifically my research interest involves explaining the natural phenomena occurring in the ionosphere portion of the terrestrial upper atmosphere. The composition and dynamics of this ionized medium is dominated by electric and magnetic fields and therefore exhibits significantly different behaviour than the neutral atmosphere we are familiar with on the Earth's surface. Beginning at 100 km altitude, only rockets or satellites can directly observe the ionosphere; however, one method to remotely probe this region is by using radio and radar techniques. As experimentalists, my students and I use these radio techniques and instruments, both ground and satellite based, to measure the composition and dynamics of the ionosphere. We have just developed and deployed a new extremely highly advanced completely digital ground based very high frequency (VHF) radar, known as ICEBEAR, for studying the lower portion, or E-region, of the ionosphere. We also work with an international team of radar physicists who study the upper portion of the ionosphere, the F-region, with a network of high frequency (HF) radars known as SuperDARN. These radars give details about motions and flows in the ionosphere, and the new ICEBEAR radar uses advanced radar techniques to do a much better job of this than in the past. We also use a Canadian space science satellite (ePOP/RRI) to study how radio waves propagate through the ionosphere, giving new insight about its structure. Recently, we started using RRI to observe the naturally occurring radio emissions, such as whistler waves, generated in the near-Earth space environment. Working closely with my students, who will develop advanced data analysis skills and independent research abilities, we will exploit the abilities of these radio instruments to foster a clearer understanding of the dynamics and structure in the ionosphere. Research using the ICEBEAR radar will give new insight and understanding of the coupling between closure currents in the E-region ionosphere, which are sourced from the magnetosphere above, and about the scattering physics itself. Knowing the electron density in the ionosphere is critical for understanding the physics there, but rarely are measurements available. We will refine a technique we have developed which uses SuperDARN observations to calculate electron density measurements over the very large SuperDARN field of view. Thus, giving a new and much needed source of this highly desirable parameter. With similar objectives, the polarisation abilities of the RRI instrument will be used to generate electron density profiles and characterise structures in the ionosphere. The direct outcome of all this research will be student theses and journal papers, and well trained physicists and engineers to work in academia or the Canadian space industry.