Radio Wave Scintillation Propagation Models and Applications
Radio Wave Scintillation Propagation Models and Applications
When ionospheric plasma becomes turbulent, radio signals that pass through it experience scintillation. Scintillation manifests as random fluctuations in phase and amplitude (and potentially in other quantities like polarization angle). The effect is similar to the optical twinkling of starlight that passes through lower-atmosphere turbulence. Ionospheric scintillation has the potential to impact systems like synthetic aperture radar (SAR), direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations. This talk will first present an overview of the propagation physics that leads to the practical model of the ionosphere as a phase changing screen ("phase screen"). We will then explore selected deterministic and random phase screen examples to gain some intuition for amplitude and phase scintillation impacts. Finally, we examine some recent applications of scintillation observations to deducing the physical state of the ionosphere, such as the decay of equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) turbulence. Not only does scintillation allow us to track when and where ionospheric irregularities develop, careful analysis may yield more quantitative physical details of the irregularity processes.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
-
Add Event to Calendar
- Boston College Newton Campus
- 885 Centre St, Newton MA)
- Newton, MA, Massachusetts
- United States
- Building: Kenny Cottle Conference Room 202
Speakers
Professor Ted Beach of Boston Collge
Radio Wave Scintillation Propagation Models and Applications
When ionospheric plasma becomes turbulent, radio signals that pass through it experience scintillation. Scintillation manifests as random fluctuations in phase and amplitude (and potentially in other quantities like polarization angle). The effect is similar to the optical twinkling of starlight that passes through lower-atmosphere turbulence. Ionospheric scintillation has the potential to impact systems like synthetic aperture radar (SAR), direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations. This talk will first present an overview of the propagation physics that leads to the practical model of the ionosphere as a phase changing screen ("phase screen"). We will then explore selected deterministic and random phase screen examples to gain some intuition for amplitude and phase scintillation impacts. Finally, we examine some recent applications of scintillation observations to deducing the physical state of the ionosphere, such as the decay of equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) turbulence. Not only does scintillation allow us to track when and where ionospheric irregularities develop, careful analysis may yield more quantitative physical details of the irregularity processes.
Biography:
Address:Boston College ISR, , Newton, MA, United States