The world's fastest vertical ionosonde built by Lobachevsky University scientists

Scientists at the Radiophysics Research Institute (RRI) of Lobachevsky University have developed the world's fastest vertical ionosonde. The device is capable of recording ionograms, traces of radio signals reflected from the ionosphere, in less than a second. Such a high rate of registration of ionograms is required to study the fast processes of redistribution of electron concentration during heating experiments, for registration of fast quasiperiodic and moving ionospheric disturbances in the ionosphere layers.

Currently. there are no devices in the world capable of working continuously and at such a speed. The best known devices have a temporal resolution of several seconds. Nizhny Novgorod scientists managed to create a unique tool for diagnosing fast processes in the ionosphere.

"Ionospheric research around the world is based on the following principle: the more signal receiving points, the better. We used all modern advances in digital radio signal processing and created an autonomous set of equipment, which can be positioned at the desired point. Then we just deploy the antenna and start receiving data," said Alexei Shindin, Director of the Radiophysics Research Institute and project supervisor.

According to Dr. Shindin, currently there are about 200 ionosondes in the world. However, there are very few of them in Russia, so the developers expect a high demand for the device that is cheaper and functionally better than its foreign counterparts.

In addition to basic research, high-speed ionospheric diagnostics may improve shortwave radio communications and rapid information transfer over several thousand kilometres, which is important for the defense sector and for business, as a more flexible and cheaper alternative to satellite communications.

"Now we have more information about the structure of the ionosphere," Alexei Shindin sums up.

A vertical ionosonde prototype permitting to determine the electron concentration profile of ionospheric plasma was assembled and configured by scientists at the Radiophysics Research Institute youth laboratory. The device has been successfully tested and is being prepared for continuous operation at several experimental bases of the UNN Radiophysics Research Institute. It is used at the Vasilsursk test site in conjunction with the SURA heating facility (a multifunctional complex for near-Earth and space research). In addition, there are agreements to deploy research equipment in Crimea, Tatarstan and the Nizhny Novgorod region.

To build the device, scientists used commercially available components, which will allow them to create a network of ionosphere diagnostic points in the future and reduce the cost of producing such ionosondes. The research team has also developed software that enables real-time transmission of ionograms with high spatial resolution.