Short Wave Infrared Imager for Magnetospheric Physics and Aeronomy Studies
Abstract
Throughout history, developments in technology have enabled transformational advances in scientific understanding. Such is the case with near-infrared sensors, and their proposed (herein) application to the study of the geospace system, which in turn will promote our predictive capability associated with space weather. Specifically, this effort is for the acquisition of a short wave infrared (SWIR) ultra-wide angle (field of view of 120degrees ) imager that would enable an extraordinary extension of imaging science capability into the 900 nm to 1700 nm region of the IR spectrum, as applied to observations of the ionospheric-thermospheric and coupled magnetospheric systems. Such instrumentation is possible due to advances of InGaAs infrared detector technology with low noise characteristics in recent years, which have made spectral access to this region now quite feasible for a ruggedized, field-deployable instrument. The spatial-temporal observations of the aurora or airglow emissions in the SWIR spectrum region would enable new ground-based studies of auroral and airglow physical processes that have not been previously possible. Such image data would observe a range of spatial distance depending upon the aurora or airglow emission observed, with this spatial extent from approximate300 km for OH emissions, approximate775 km for auroral proton and He 1083 nm emissions, and approximate1750 km for the He 1083 nm nightglow. Studies of the He 1083 nm nightglow emission intensity would enable the observations of He exospheric density variability and its latitudinal gradient. Of particular interest to the space weather studies supported by Air Force research enterprise, as applied to orbital drag considerations, would be the combined observations made possible by imaging the helium emission at 1083 nm as well as the hydrogen aurora emission at 1282 nm and selected atomic and molecular nitrogen auroral emissions. Also of interest for magnetospheric physics studies of the auroral morphology would be the detection of Alfvenic aurora by measuring the rotational temperature of the 0-0 Meinel N2+ band. Furthermore, the instrument can be outfitted with other filters in the future, so as to enable discovery science as our scientific understanding advances. The data from this instrument, as well as those combined with results from other existing instrumentation, would provide an excellent community resource that will dramatically advance our understanding of the geospace environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 06, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310412
Entities
People
- John Meriwether
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- United States Air Force