Date of Award

8-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Committee Chair/Advisor

Dr. Stephen Kaeppler

Committee Member

Dr. Gerald Lehmacher

Committee Member

Dr. Chad Sosolik

Abstract

The ionosphere can be approximated as a magnetized plasma. This results in wave- particle interactions driving a large quantity of ionospheric phenomena. To understand these phenomena, it is important to quantify and measure certain key plasma parameters. One such parameter is electron density. The Faraday Experiment was developed for the purpose of measuring electron density in the D-region of the ionosphere. This experiment was made popular by Martin Friedrich in the 1970s and is currently one of the only ways to provide high resolution measurements of electron density in the D-region without actively disturbing the surrounding plasma. This thesis aims to highlight this experiment and propose an update to one of its main components. This update would bring the Faraday Experiment up to date with today’s technology and extend its usability. In this thesis, the history, methodology, and the development of the updated experiment will be discussed.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.