Skip to Main Content
Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration
book

Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration

by Sami W. Asmar
March 2022
Intermediate to advanced content levelIntermediate to advanced
352 pages
12h 30m
English
Wiley
Content preview from Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration

4 Solar and Fundamental Physics

In Collaboration with J. W. Armstrong

4.1 Principles of Heliospheric Observations

Radio science (RS) observations can probe the inner heliosphere and the solar wind on spatial scales inaccessible to in-situ observations. The first use of the deep space network (DSN) for heliospheric research was a spectral broadening experiment as the line-of-sight (LOS) of the Mariner 4 spacecraft passed within 0.6 degrees (deg) of the Sun. An open-loop receiver (see Chapter 5 ) was used to record the pre-detection electric field data. In 1968, Goldstein (1969) duplicated the experiment during the superior conjunction of Pioneer 6. Table 4.1 summarizes observable quantities and their relevance to heliospheric investigation goals. Appendix 4A describes solar corona observation methodology using Mars Express data for illustration.

Table 4.1 Radio science observables relevant to heliospheric studies.

Observation Relevance Comment

Phase scintillation

  • Spectrum
  • Allan variance
  • Directly related to electron density spectrum over wide range of spatial scales
    • Sense changes with solar distance
    • Sense changes in/out of ecliptic
  • Sensitive and w/large dynamic range (does not “saturate” like intensity scintillation)
  • S-X or X-K isolates downlink plasma w/excellent control of systematics
  • ~10−4–10 Hz
  • Useful over whole sky: Sun–Earth–spacecraft angles 0–180 deg

Intensity fluctuations

  • Spectrum
  • Statistical moments (variance, third central moment)
  • Bi-spectrum
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Start your free trial

You might also like

Emerging Technologies for Food Processing, 2nd Edition

Emerging Technologies for Food Processing, 2nd Edition

Da-Wen Sun
Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders

Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders

Robert Bruce Thompson, Barbara Fritchman Thompson

Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781119734147Purchase Link