Joint Observations with the Puerto Rico CubeSat, the Aguadilla Radio Array, and Arecibo Observatory

Joint Observations with the Puerto Rico CubeSat, the Aguadilla Radio Array, and Arecibo Observatory

The ionosphere is a source of natural radio emissions in the low-frequency, medium-frequency, and high-frequency bands (0 to 30 MHz). In addition to natural emissions, artificial emissions can be stimulated using high-power radiowave ionospheric modification facilities, of which one is located at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Two complementary projects are underway for the purpose of measuring stimulated radio emissions from the ionosphere above Arecibo. One involves the GimmeRF radio instrument, designed for 0 to 30 MHz vector observation of the radio electric field, and planned for launch on the Puerto Rico CubeSat. A second instrument, CARLO, will measure ion irregularities, temperature, and turbulence. The second project is the Aguadilla radio array, currently being installed at the Interamerican University Aguadilla Campus in northwestern Puerto Rico. The Aguadilla array is intended to measure 2 to 25 MHz radio images of the ionosphere, as well as to perform bistatic radar imaging of the ionosphere over Puerto Rico. Radio images produced by the Aguadilla array below the ionosphere can be directly compared with the radio data received by Puerto Rico CubeSat in-situ in the topside ionosphere, with the goal of better understanding the geometry and mechanisms of the radio emission processes.