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Radio Plasma Imager Simulations and MeasurementsThe Radio Plasma Imager (RPI) will be the first-of-its kind instrument designed to use radio wave sounding techniques to perform repetitive remote sensing measurements of electron number density (N(sub e)) structures and the dynamics of the magnetosphere and plasmasphere. RPI will fly on the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) mission to be launched early in the year 2000. The design of the RPI is based on recent advances in radio transmitter and receiver design and modern digital processing techniques perfected for ground-based ionospheric sounding over the last two decades. Free-space electromagnetic waves transmitted by the RPI located in the low density magnetospheric cavity will be reflected at distant plasma cutoffs. The location and characteristics of the plasma at those remote reflection points can then be derived from measurements of the echo amplitude, phase, delay time, frequency, polarization, Doppler shift, and echo direction. The 500 m tip-to-tip X and Y (spin plane) antennas and 20 m boom Z axis antenna on RPI will be used to measures echoes coming from distances of several R(sub E).
Document ID
19990079358
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Green, J. L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Benson, R. F.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Fung, S. F.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Taylor, W. W. L.
(Raytheon Co. Greenbelt, MD United States)
Boardsen, S. A.
(Raytheon Co. Greenbelt, MD United States)
Reinisch, B. W.
(Massachusetts Univ. Lowell, MA United States)
Haines, D. M.
(Massachusetts Univ. Lowell, MA United States)
Bibl, K.
(Massachusetts Univ. Lowell, MA United States)
Cheney, G.
(Massachusetts Univ. Lowell, MA United States)
Galkin, I. A.
(Massachusetts Univ. Lowell, MA United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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