EISCAT_3D - a next-generation European radar system for upper atmosphere and geospace research

• Main Authors: Wannberg, Gudmund, Eliasson, L., Johansson, J., Wolf, I., Andersson, H., Bergqvist, Peter, Häggström, I., Iinatti, T., Laakso, T., Larsen, R., Markkanen, J., Marttala, I., Postila, M., Turunen, E., van Eyken, A., Vanhainen, L.-G., Westman, A., Behlke, R., Belyey, V., Grydeland, T., Gustavsson, B., La Hoz, C., Borg, Johan, Delsing, Jerker, Johansson, Jonny, Larsmark, Mikael, Lindgren, Tore, Lundberg, Magnus, Finch, I., Harrison, R.A., McKay, D., Puccio, W., Renkwitz, T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Luleå tekniska universitet, EISLAB 2010
• Subjects: Other Electrical Engineering; Electronic Engineering; Information Engineering; Annan elektroteknik och elektronik; Kiruna; EISCAT
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-8203; https://doi.org/10.23919/URSIRSB.2010.7911050

The EISCAT Scientifi c Association, together with a number of collaborating institutions, has recently completed a feasibility and design study for an enhanced performance research radar facility to replace the existing EISCAT UHF and VHF systems. This study was supported by EU Sixth-Framework funding. The new radar retains the powerful multi-static geometry of the EISCAT UHF, but will employ phased arrays, direct-sampling receivers, and digital beamforming and beam steering. Design goals include, inter alia, a tenfold improvement in temporal and spatial resolution, an extension of the instantaneous measurement of full-vector ionospheric drift velocities from a single point to the entire altitude range of the radar, and an imaging capability to resolve small-scale structures. Prototype receivers and beamformers are currently being tested on a 48-element, 224 MHz array (the "Demonstrator") erected at the Kiruna EISCAT site, using the EISCAT VHF transmitter as an illuminator. Validerad; 2010; 20090807 (gustav_j)