Frontier Research at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory

吉卡马卡射电天文台的前沿研究

基本信息

批准号：
2213849
负责人：
David Hysell
金额：
$ 865.32万
依托单位：
Cornell University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2023
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2023-02-01 至 2028-01-31
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2213849&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Frontier Research Jicamarca Radio Observatory

项目摘要

The ionized portion of the upper atmosphere at the magnetic equator (equatorial ionosphere) is a unique plasma environment which hosts diverse plasma phenomena ranging from equatorial plasma bubbles to small-scale plasma structures. Plasma bubbles and other plasma density structures are known to disturb radio and satellite communications and thus represent a space weather hazard. The Jicamarca Radio Observatory (JRO) near Lima, Perú has been providing high-quality observations of these phenomena and the associated plasma processes for 60 years. JRO is owned and operated by the Peruvian Geophysical Institute (Instituto Geofísico del Perú) with support from an award from the Geospace Facilities program at NSF to Cornell University. JRO is the equatorial anchor of the Geospace Facilities chain and the only such facility that enables experimental investigations of space plasma physics and space weather disturbances near the magnetic equator. Over the years, JRO has undergone continual improvement and upgrades and its centerpiece, the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar (ISR), is currently the largest ISR in terms of the power-aperture product, a measure of how sensitive the radar is to various plasma disturbances. The work will exploit the JRO’s unique capabilities associated with its location near the magnetic equation and its high sensitivity by focusing on new classes of plasma phenomena and processes unique to the equatorial zone. These include upper-hybrid plasma instability in the daytime 150-km region, lower-hybrid waves in the high topside at night, solar echo experiments, multi-frequency plasma irregularity studies, the effects of Coulomb collisions on the incoherent radar spectrum, and meteor echoes and derived neutral winds. This work will expand relationships with outside researchers and programs through collaborative investigations and by hosting visits from students and professionals; maintain an efficient, diverse management system that is resilient to changes occurring at NSF, Cornell, and in Peru; expand STEM educational opportunities by directly supporting undergraduate and graduate students; and train the next generation of radio scientists through a combination of summer schools, workshops, and hosted visits as well as the creation of curricula and educational materials.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

磁赤道上层大气的电离部分（赤道电离层）是一个独特的等离子体环境，存在多种等离子体现象，从赤道等离子体气泡到小尺度结构等离子体气泡和其他等离子体密度结构都会干扰无线电和无线电。秘鲁利马附近的吉卡马卡无线电天文台 (JRO) 60 年来一直对这些现象和相关等离子体过程进行高质量观测。 JRO 由秘鲁地球物理研究所 (Instituto Geofísico del Perú) 所有和运营，并获得美国国家科学基金会 (NSF) 地理空间设施计划授予康奈尔大学的支持，是地球空间设施链的赤道锚点，也是唯一能够进行实验研究的此类设施。多年来，JRO 不断改进和升级其核心产品——吉卡马卡非相干散射雷达。 (ISR)，是目前最大的功率孔径乘积，衡量雷达对各种等离子体扰动的敏感程度。这项工作将利用 JRO 的独特功能，该功能与其靠近磁方程的位置及其高强度相关。通过关注赤道地区特有的新型等离子体现象和过程来提高灵敏度，其中包括白天 150 公里区域的上层混合等离子体不稳定、夜间高层的下层混合波、太阳回波实验、多等离子体频率不规则性研究、库仑碰撞对不相干雷达频谱的影响以及流星回波和衍生的中性风。这项工作将通过合作调查和接待学生和专业人士的访问来扩大与外部研究人员和项目的关系；多样化的管理体系，能够适应 NSF、康奈尔大学和秘鲁发生的变化；通过直接支持本科生和研究生来扩大 STEM 教育机会，并通过暑期学校、研讨会和主办活动的结合来培训下一代无线电科学家；访问以及创建课程和教育材料。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。