The design and capabilities of an ionospheric radar probe

Abstract

Staff members of the Cornell University Center for Radiophysics and Space Research have designed an ionospheric radar probe to be located near Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The radar will have the following general specifications: 1) Antenna reflector, 1000-foot-diameter spherical bowl, illuminated by a 430-Mc dual-polarized feed. 2) Transmitter of 2.5 Mw peak, 150 kw average power, or 100 kw CW power. 3) Dual-channel receiver, capable of measuring total power, polarization and received spectrum. The radar will initially be used to measure the variation of electron density with height, the fluctuations of electron density at fixed heights and electron temperatures and magnetic field strengths at various heights. Ionospheric drifts may also be measured. The radar will also he able to obtain echoes from planets, information of the moon's surface and possibly echoes from the sun. Hydromagnetic shocks may also be detected and a study of cislunar ionization can be made. The passive system with the large antenna may be used as an instrument in radio astronomy to observe radio emission from planets and from true stars, and to make a survey of radio sources. With additional facilities, many radio astronomy measurements can be made taking advantage of the large antenna aperture and resulting high resolving power.