A Multidimensional Characterization of MUIR Backscatter Spectra Resulting from Ionospheric Heating Experiments Performed at HAARP

<p>The results of several atmospheric heating experiments, which we performed at the HAARP facility, are presented. We sought to provide a multidimensional characterization of the various artificial ionospheric heating features by varying HF aspect angle, HF pump frequency, UHF pointing angle, and heating pulse time. Through the use of the HAARP HF array and the MUIR UHF radar, we observed cascade (LDI), collapse (cavitons), parametric decay lines (PDI), outshifted plasma lines (OPL), overshoot, and artificial field aligned irregularities (AFAI), as well as some features that have not been previously studied, for instance, the “bursty” plasma lines. Through a collaborative effort with the University of Michigan’s RAX-2 satellite, we saw that the small cubesats may be able to detect artificially produced ionospheric irregularities such as AFAI during continuous heating experiments.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics and Astronomy

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Rayyan, Naseem

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. J. P. Sheerin, Ph.D., Advisor
• Dr. M. Thomsen, Ph.D.
• Dr. P. Koehn, Ph.D.

• Atmospheric Heating
• Bursty lines
• Cascade
• Caviton
• HAARP
• Plasma lines
• Physics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/711

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2089