Graduate Student and Optical Instrumentation Support Related to the Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar

The Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR) is a solid-state, phased array incoherent scatter radar that will measure basic properties of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere with unprecedented versatility and power. The phased-array design allows pulse-to-pulse beam steering, thus enabling three-dimensional “imaging” of ionospheric properties, such as electron density, electron and ion temperatures, and ion drift velocities. The modular design facilitates reconfiguration of the radar antenna, as well as relocation in response to changing scientific priorities. Current plans are for deployment of AMISR systems at Poker Flat, Alaska, and Resolute Bay, Canada. The radar system at Poker Flat consists of a single face approximately 35 meters square, while the system at Resolute Bay will consist of two such faces arranged to extend coverage across the polar cap.

AMISR scientific goals will be enhanced by the addition of two important activities. One is the training of graduate students to help establish a user base of highly-qualified scientists who are knowledgeable in incoherent scatter theory and understand the practical challenges of designing and executing radar experiments. Second, is the development and deployment of optical instrumentation capable of observing properties of the upper atmosphere not measurable by AMISR. This solicitation is to provide funding for graduate students and optical instrumentation in support of the AMISR systems at Poker Flat and Resolute Bay. The graduate student activity entails support for scientists at academic institutions to pay graduate student costs for three years, plus no more than one month of the graduate student advisor's salary support for each of three years. Optical instrumentation support is for acquisition, design, development, and deployment of instruments at one of the two AMISR sites, or at a nearby site as appropriate.