Accurate measurement and reconstruction of small- to medium-scale structure in the ionosphere is critical to understanding system effects and the geophysical processes that drive these phenomena, whether natural or artificially generated through active ionospheric experiments. Optical imaging provides a broad two-dimensional view, but is an indirect method that does not allow unambiguous retrieval of plasma densities. With the spread of modern digital and software-based radio systems and development of radio telescopes capable of operating in the HF band, aperture synthesis imaging of radio waves reflecting from the ionosphere is creating new opportunities to study ionospheric structure that provide more direct links to system impacts. We seek to find improved ways to synthesize all available information, including radio imaging and optical emissions, to diagnose conditions in the natural and modified ionosphere. Efforts include development of RF image synthesis, phase object reconstruction and radio holography, optical filtering techniques, instruments and detectors, and techniques for assimilation of data into models. Interest areas include the natural ionosphere at high, middle, and low latitudes; and artificial effects induced by chemical releases, spacecraft maneuvers, particle beams, or radio waves. Our group maintains a large data base of optical and RF data from locations around the world, as well as a large suite of low-light imaging equipment and active and passive RF diagnostics ranging from HF through L-band. These data sets span both natural effects as well as artificial structures produced by ionospheric modification experiments.

 

References

Pedersen TB, et al: Geophysical Research Letters 37: L02106, doi:10.1029/2009GL041895, 2010

Pedersen TB, et al: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (39)11: 2704, 2011

 

key words

Radio imaging; Optical; Imaging; Remote sensing; Airglow; Aurora; Ionosphere; Traveling ionospheric disturbances; Active experiment; Ionospheric modification;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants