Preview of Blackbeard interferometry
Blackbeard is a broadband VHF measurements satellite experiment designed and built by the Space Science and Technology division of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Blackbeard is a piggy-back experiment on the ALEXIS satellite to be launched into a 70 degree inclination orbit at an altitude of 750 km. The satellite experimental operation and data retrieval are controlled through a telemetry link from the Satellite Operations Center (SOC) located at Los Alamos, NM. The primary experimental objectives of Blackbeard are three-fold: (1) Study the dispersion of broad-band impulsive electromagnetic signals -- in particular, the higher-order amplitude and phase distortion due to propagation through the ionosphere. These depend on ionospheric conditions and irregularities. (2) Utilize RF interferometry and scintillation techniques in the low VHF-band to determine the size and extent of ionospheric irregularities and wave structure -- both natural and artificially induced. This narrow-band data will be used to categorize the ionospheric media as undisturbed, oscillatory, or turbulent. These parameters will then be input into transfer function simulations for broad-band propagation and compared with broad-band propagation data from Blackbeard. (3) Survey and characterize background noise in the VHF-band-consisting of (1) cataloging broadcast amplitudes and signatures and mapping their global pattern, and (2) cataloging the signatures of lightning events. Also, correlate emissions in the visible and VHF bands in an attempt to confirm broad-band RF emissions assumed to be associated with lightning.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 10176841
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--92-2609; CONF-9207118--4; ON: DE92040329
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Satellite measurement of ionospheric-induced vhf distortion
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Related Subjects
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71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPONENTS
ELECTRON DEVICES AND CIRCUITS
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSES
EXPERIMENT PLANNING
INTERFEROMETERS
INTERFEROMETRY
IONOSPHERE
NOISE
OTHER ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RF SYSTEMS
SATELLITES
SIGNAL DISTORTION
TELEMETRY
WAVE PROPAGATION