Open AccessInferring E region electron density profiles at Jicamarca from Faraday rotation of coherent scatter
Author(s) -
Hysell D. L.,
Chau J. L.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000ja001101
Subject(s) - faraday effect , physics , incoherent scatter , electron density , radar , ionosphere , altitude (triangle) , rotation (mathematics) , azimuth , daytime , electrojet , faraday cage , optics , computational physics , equatorial electrojet , plasma , geophysics , magnetic field , atmospheric sciences , earth's magnetic field , geometry , telecommunications , mathematics , quantum mechanics , computer science
A new technique for measuring E region plasma density profiles in the equatorial electrojet using a bistatic coherent scatter radar is described. The technique utilizes the Faraday rotation of the obliquely and coherently scattered signal. Plasma density versus altitude is inferred from the rate of Faraday rotation as a function of range and elevation angle. A narrow beam width is required to minimize returns from unwanted azimuths, but this can be achieved in a bistatic experiment using relatively small antenna arrays with widely spaced elements. We give a sample time sequence of daytime electron density profiles that were measured with the new technique at altitudes between 95 and 110 km. Scatter from pure two‐stream waves makes it possible to measure both the bottomside and topside density profiles during the day. The importance of this new technique becomes evident when one realizes that only a few rocket flights have provided density profiles through these altitudes at the magnetic equator; the region has been inaccessible to any remote sensing technique until now.