Video Imaging of CHARGE IIB Auroral Streaks

Abstract

The 120 km region conjugate to the CHARGE IIB payload (Poker Flat, Alaska, March 29, 1992) was observed with a pair of low-light level TV systems. A single auroral streak observed as the payload passed through 113 km on the downleg (+466s) confirmed that the electron beam escaped the vicinity of the payload. The lack of any other detected streaks would be consistent with a beam current (peak) of less than 1.6 A. The location of the payload relative to the star background at re-entry was consistent (within 2km) with the radar trajectory. The intensified CCD camera was found to provide a high quality picture with slightly lower sensitivity than that of the older image orthicon camera. Artificial auroral streaks, Low-light level TV, Electron beams.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA277182

Entities

People

  • Thomas J. Hallinan

Organizations

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Altitude
  • Cameras
  • Electron Accelerators
  • Electron Beams
  • Electron Energy
  • Electrons
  • Elevation
  • Energy
  • Frequency Modulation
  • Image Orthicons
  • Images
  • Low Light Levels
  • Sensitivity
  • Trajectories
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics