Bibcode
Rodriguez, P.
Bibliographical reference
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly, Abstracts from the meeting held in Nice, France, 6 - 11 April 2003, abstract #2948
Advertised on:
4
2003
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
A new approach to the study of the Sun's corona and its dynamical
processes is possible with radar investigations in the frequency range
of about 10-50 MHz. The range of electron densities of the solar corona
is such that radio waves at these frequencies can provide diagnostic
radar echoes of large scale phenomena such as coronal mass ejections
(CMEs). We expect that the frequency shift imposed on the echo signal by
an earthward-moving CME will provide a direct measurement of the
velocity, thereby providing a good estimate of the arrival time at
Earth. It is known that CMEs are responsible for the largest
geomagnetic storms at Earth, which are capable of causing power grid
blackouts, satellite electronic upsets, and degradation of radio
communications circuits. Thus, having accurate forecasts of potential
CME-initiated geomagnetic storms is of practical space weather interest.
New high power transmitting arrays are becoming available, along with
proposed modifications to existing research facilities, that will allow
the use of radio waves to study the solar corona by the radar echo
technique. Of particular interest for such solar radar investigations is
the bistatic configuration with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR). The
LOFAR facility will have an effective receiving area of about 1 square
km at solar radar frequencies. Such large effective area will provide
the receiving antenna gain needed for detailed investigations of solar
coronal dynamics. Conservative estimates of the signal-to-noise ratio
for solar radar echoes as a function of the integration time required to
achieve a specified detection level (e.g., ~ 5 dB) indicate that time
resolutions of 10s of seconds can be achieved. Thus, we are able to
resolve variations in the solar radar cross section on time scales which
will provide new information on the plasma dynamical processes
associated with the solar corona, such as CMEs. It is the combination
of high transmitted power and large effective receiving area that makes
possible the significant performance indicated. We will review early
and current solar radar investigations and proposed approaches to future
radar studies of the solar corona. Solar radar experiments were done
almost from the beginning of the modern era of space physics research
and has a very interesting history. In addition to re-opening the solar
radar window, LOFAR will also be able to open new studies of planetary
hard surfaces (e.g., the Moon and asteroids), and solar system plasmas
(solar wind, magnetosphere, dusty plasmas, comets).