High-Speed Intensified Camera System for Investigation of Plasma Turbulence Induced by the Aurora
Abstract
This the final report for a one-year effort to develop a high frame-rate multi-scale camera for investigations of fine-scale auroral dynamics and induced beam-plasma instabilities in the high-latitude ionosphere. The scope of the project included development and field-testing of the instrument, as well as development of an image processing framework for extracting physical parameters from the recorded measurements. The optical architecture consisted of a low-noise scientific-grade CMOS sensor coupled to a 140-mm f/1 optic through a prompt-emission notch filter. This design provided meter-scale spatial resolution at 120-km stand-off distance over an 8x6 degree field-of-view. 16-bit sampling provided the large dynamic range required to observe the full range of variability in the aurora. A lower resolution wide-field sensor provided contextual information and the acquisition trigger for the CMOS sensor. Triggering was accomplished via real-time analysis of intensity and motions of targets within the field. Initial observations from the Sondrestrom, Greenland, ionospheric research facility have provided compelling proof-of-concept in support of a broader science program, as discussed in this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA578221
Entities
People
- J. L. Semeter
Organizations
- Boston University