Part 0: Start jupyter notebook 

For instructions, see https://github.com/isrsummerschool/lecture_supplements_2021

Part 1: Run simulations of the existing Poker Flat ISR

• From the jupyter notebook page, choose ISR_blackbox, then ISR_blackbox_existing.ipynb.

• Choose Cell -> Run All to start the UI.  (The code behind this simulation is available in the jupyter notebook under ISR_blackbox -> ISR_blackbox.py, if you want to check it out later).
• Choose the Poker Flat ISR in Single Pulse 480 microsecond mode

• Run for 24 hours during Jan. 1st at a 45 degree elevation using 240 seconds of integration

• Note that two plots are created.  The left one shows the amount of error in estimated the autocorrection function (ACF), which will be fitted to get physical parameters.  The second shows the electron density calculated using the IRI model, which is driving the simulation.

• Determine how many seconds you can reduce the integration period to and still have less than 10% error at all times at altitudes of:

  • 700 km

  • 500 km

• Describe what happens when the integration period gets short.

Part 2: Run simulations of a modified Poker Flat ISR

• From the jupyter notebook page, choose ISR_blackbox, then ISR_blackbox_new.ipynb.

• Choose Cell -> Run All to start the UI. 

Modify the Poker Flat radar by making it larger or smaller. Assume any area you add or subtract has active antenna, so the area and peak power will both scale together linearly. To do this, you will need to know the following parameters about the Poker Flat ISR:

• Freq: 450E6 Hz

• Area: ~ 900 m^2

• Typical peak power: 1.7E6 W

• Pulse length: 480.0E-6 seconds

• Duty cycle: 0.096

• Jan 1, 45 degree elevation.

• Latitude 65 degrees, longitude -147degrees

Determine how many seconds you can reduce the integration period to and still have less than 20% error at all times at altitudes of:

• 1000 km

• 500 km

How much difference does this extra aperture make at 1000 km? At 500 km?

Now change the elevation at 5 degrees (its a virtual radar, after all!). What happens at 1000 km altitude? What parameter could you change to make things better at 1000 km?