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Participation in the scientific activities of the Waves in Space Plasma (WISP) projectThis is the Final Report for Contract NAG5-1925, that consisted of experiment design, for possible use by the space science mission called WISP (Waves in Space Plasma). This mission is under study by the Canadian Space Agency and by NASA. Two WISP configurations are contemplated, under the name of BICEPS: one is called BOLAS, and the other WISPRS. Both these configurations are meant to perform bistatic sounding of the ionosphere, at a height close to F(sub 2) H(sub max) (about 350 Km), with a pair of satellites, either tethered or in free flight. Investigation A (with Y.L. Alpert as P.I.) addresses the subject of parametric decay effects, expected to arise in a magnetoplasma under the influence of high-intensity HF fields. Criteria were formulated that could be used in searching for parametric instabilities and of electric fields in the ionosphere and magnetosphere, by in-situ satellites, such as the BICEPS Pair. Investigation B (with M.D.Grossi as P.I.) addressed the bistatic measurement, by the BICEPS pair,of ionospheric features, such as large-scale and small-scale disturbances, travelling ionospheric disturbances, electron density irregularities, spread-F phenomena, etc. These measurements by BICEPS could be correlated with the waveform distortion and degradation experienced by microwave links from geosynchronous height to ground, such as the ACTS satellite, expected to radiate pulses as short as 1 nanosecond in the band 20 to 30 GHz. These links are transionospheric and propagate e.m. waves in the volume of the ionosphere where BICEPS operates. It will be possible, therefore, to correlate the two classes of measurements, and learn the causative mechanisms that are responsible for the time-spread and frequency-spread nature of communications waveforms at microwave, in geosynchronous height to ground paths.
Document ID
19940028607
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Alpert, Yakov L. (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, MA, United States)
Grossi, Mario D. (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1994
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-195903
NAS 1.26:195903
Accession Number
94N33113
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-1925
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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