AURORAL INPUT-OUTPUT EXPERIMENT.
Abstract
A study of the use of natural phenomena to simulate radio and radar blackout effects led to the development of the auroral input-output experiment. The objective was to fully document several pertinent parameters in a volume of the upper atmosphere being bombarded by fast particles. Incoming energetic particles (the input) producing the auroras were measured by an instrumented polar orbiting satellite. The optical emissions and integrated electron content (the outputs) were measured simultaneously and with good geometry by photometers and radio receiving equipment (for receiving signals from the satellite borne radio beacon) on instrumented aircraft and/or ground stations. Low energy (20 eV to 100 keV) electron and proton detectors, photometers, beacons and fast data handling equipment were developed for seven satellite packages, four of which have provided extensive data on particle fluxes, angular distributions, energy spectra and precipitation patterns and on 3914 A and vacuum uv emissions. A 5-channel filter scanning photometer (1 scan/sec) and a 3-frequency (20, 40 and 120 MHz) phase locked coherent receiver for signal strength and differential Doppler electron content measurements plus auxiliary optical and tape recording gear were adapted to aircraft use and were operated underneath the satellite transits over the auroral zone in Alaska. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0668202
Entities
People
- John E. Evans
- Richard G. Johnson
- Roland E. Meyerott
Organizations
- Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space