Optical Emissions Generated During Ionospheric Heating

<p>Ionospheric heating, accomplished by transmitting a high-frequency electromagnetic wave into the atmosphere, stimulates a large number of linear and non-linear wave-plasma interactions. One outcome of these interactions is the acceleration of thermal ionospheric electrons, leading to the production of induced optical emissions. Detection of these emissions yields information regarding wave-plasma interactions, which are of fundamental importance in many physical processes, and provides an effective means of remotely sensing ionospheric constituents and dynamics.</p> <p>During an ionospheric heating experiment performed at the High Power Auroral Stimulation facility in Alaska (64.9° N, 146.8° W), a modified Czerny-Turner grating spectrometer acquired high resolution optical spectra of a heated volume. In addition to the already-documented 0(3P) 844.6 nm (excitation energy of 10.99 eV), and 0(5P) 777.4 nm (10.74 eV) emissions, two previously unreported radio-induced optical emissions, 0+ 732-733 nm (18.61 eV), and <em>0(3D°) </em>799.0 nm (12.49 eV), were observed. The experiment utilized a 2.85 MHz, 32 MW effective radiated power, o-mode radio wave, pointed into the magnetic zenith.</p> <p>This thesis presents the first spectroscopic time series observations of a heated volume, showing optical emission modulation by the heater, and summarizes the current state of high-latitude ionospheric heating, with a focus on the generation and detection of optical emissions.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Space Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physical Sciences

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Mutiso, Charles Kiumo

Contributors dc:contributor

• John M. Hughes
• G. G. Sivjee
• Mark Anthony Reynolds

• optical emissions
• ionosphere
• Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Atmospheric Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/154

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:db-theses-1215