Irkutsk Incoherent Scatter Radar: history, present and future

Abstract

Abstract. The article focuses on the history of ionospheric research using the incoherent scatter method at the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics and development of the only incoherent scatter radar in Russia, which is located near Irkutsk. It describes the radar features and the current situation of research at the Irkutsk Incoherent Scatter Radar (IISR). Operating modes and types of measurements of the radar are specified. There is a brief description of the original measurement techniques that were developed considering the IISR features such as the frequency principle of scanning and receiving of one linear polarization of a scattered signal. The main feature of the IISR is the possibility of obtaining absolute values of the ionospheric plasma electron density. The automatic method for constructing the electron density vertical profile is based on registration of vertical profiles of a rotation phase of the polarization plane of a scattered signal. The method does not require calibration with additional facilities.

Correlation analysis of solar flux absolute measurements at 161 and 245 MHz

“…IISR has a horn antenna of size 246×12 m and of height ~20 m [Potekhin et al, 2009;Medvedev, Potekhin, 2019]. The antenna beamwidth is 0.5°×10°.…”

“…Since 1990s, IISR operating in 154-163 MHz has been used to solve various scientific problems [Medvedev, Potekhin, 2019] such as ionospheric research, detection and tracking of space objects, radio astronomy observations. IISR has also been used in a number of special experiments: observation of coherent echoes from field-aligned irregularities; study of ionospheric irregularities occurring when Progress spacecraft engines worked, and radiosounding of the Moon.…”

Correlation analysis of solar flux absolute measurements at 161 and 245 MHz

“…ИРНР обладает рупорной антенной размером 246×12 м и высотой ~20 м [Potekhin et al, 2009;Medvedev, Potekhin, 2019] Для калибровки приемного тракта ИРНР уже длительное время [Сетов и др., 2018, 2020] приме-няются карты шума неба, получаемые для конкретной частоты по модели диффузного галактического радиоизлучения [Zheng et al, 2016]. Калибровка проводится почастотно: сигнал на каждой отдельной частоте сопоставляется с модельным сигналом для определения АЧХ и собственных шумов системы антенна -приемный тракт.…”

“…Данные ИРНР охватывают период 2011-2022 гг., Learmonth -2006Learmonth - -2022 ИРНР, работающий в диапазоне частот 154-163 МГц, с 90-х гг. применяется для решения различных научных задач [Medvedev, Potekhin, 2019], включающих исследования ионосферы, детектирование и отслеживание космических объектов, радиоастрономические наблюдения. ИРНР использовался также в ряде специальных экспериментов: наблюдение когерентного эха от вытянутых вдоль поля неоднородностей в ионосфере; исследование ионосферных неоднородностей, возникающих во время работы двигателей космических кораблей «Прогресс», и радиозондирование Луны.…”

Method for Determining Neutral Wind Velocity Vectors Using Measurements of Internal Gravity Wave Group and Phase Velocities

“…A unique network of radio instruments for ionospheric research has been developed in Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Specifically, the Ionosonde DPS-4 and two beams from the Irkutsk Incoherent Scatter Radar (IISR) [1,2] have been arranged to form a triangle with sides~100 km, which is convenient for investigating medium-and large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs). The vertical sounding ionosonde DPS-4 is located in Irkutsk, while the Incoherent Scatter Radar is 98 km to the north-west of Irkutsk.…”