Incoherent scatter
Encyclopedia
Incoherent scattering is a type of scattering phenomenon in physics, which may involve various particles, such as neutrons or photons.

One application is a ground-based technique for studying the Earth's ionosphere
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...

. A radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...

 beam scattering off electrons in the ionospheric plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...

 creates an incoherent scatter echo. The ionospheric electrons are controlled by the much slower and massive positive ions - electron density fluctuations relate to ion temperature, mass distribution, and motion. The incoherent scatter signal allows measurement of electron density
Electron density
Electron density is the measure of the probability of an electron being present at a specific location.In molecules, regions of electron density are usually found around the atom, and its bonds...

, ion temperature and electron
Electron
The electron is a subatomic particle with a negative elementary electric charge. It has no known components or substructure; in other words, it is generally thought to be an elementary particle. An electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton...

 temperatures, ion composition and plasma velocity.

See also

  • EISCAT
    EISCAT
    EISCAT is an acronym for the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association. It operates three incoherent scatter radar systems, at 224 MHz, 931 MHz in Northern Scandinavia and one at 500 MHz on Svalbard, used to study the interaction between the Sun and the Earth as revealed by disturbances in...

  • Millstone Hill Observatory
    Millstone Hill Observatory
    Millstone Hill Observatory is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology atmospheric sciences research centre in Westford, Massachusetts.- External links :* http://www.haystack.edu/atm/mho/index.html...

  • Arecibo Observatory
    Arecibo Observatory
    The Arecibo Observatory is a radio telescope near the city of Arecibo in Puerto Rico. It is operated by SRI International under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation...

  • Jicamarca Radio Observatory
    Jicamarca Radio Observatory
    The Jicamarca Radio Observatory is the equatorial anchor of the Western Hemisphere chain of Incoherent Scatter Radar observatories extending from Lima, Peru to Søndre Strømfjord, Greenland. JRO is the premier scientific facility in the world for studying the equatorial ionosphere...


External links

  • EISCAT Homepage- about EISCAT
    EISCAT
    EISCAT is an acronym for the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association. It operates three incoherent scatter radar systems, at 224 MHz, 931 MHz in Northern Scandinavia and one at 500 MHz on Svalbard, used to study the interaction between the Sun and the Earth as revealed by disturbances in...

    , European Incoherent Scatter
  • Millstone Hill Observatory Homepage - about Millstone Hill Observatory
  • Incoherent scatter tutorial - from the MIT Haystack Observatory
    Haystack Observatory
    Haystack Observatory is a group of astronomical observatories owned and operated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is located in Westford, Massachusetts . It is the home of the Millstone Hill Observatory....

    website
  • Incoherent scatter locations - map of world operational incoherent scatter radars
  • AMISR - Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar
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