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dc.contributor.authorLoi, S.
dc.contributor.authorMurphy, T.
dc.contributor.authorCairns, I.
dc.contributor.authorTrott, Cathryn
dc.contributor.authorHurley-Walker, Natasha
dc.contributor.authorFeng, L.
dc.contributor.authorHancock, Paul
dc.contributor.authorKaplan, D.
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T13:48:05Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T13:48:05Z
dc.date.created2016-08-24T19:30:14Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.identifier.citationLoi, S. and Murphy, T. and Cairns, I. and Trott, C. and Hurley-Walker, N. and Feng, L. and Hancock, P. et al. 2016. A new angle for probing field-aligned irregularities with the Murchison Widefield Array. Radio Science. 51 (6): pp. 659-679.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/35169
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/2015RS005878
dc.description.abstract

Electron density irregularities in the ionosphere are known to be magnetically anisotropic, preferentially elongated along the lines of force. While many studies of their morphology have been undertaken by topside sounding and whistler measurements, it is only recently that detailed regional-scale reconstructions have become possible, enabled by the advent of widefield radio telescopes. Here we present a new approach for visualizing and studying field-aligned irregularities (FAIs), which involves transforming interferometric measurements of total electron content gradients onto a magnetic shell tangent plane. This removes the perspective distortion associated with the oblique viewing angle of the irregularities from the ground, facilitating the decomposition of dynamics along and across magnetic field lines. We apply this transformation to the data set of Loi et al. (2015a), obtained on 15 October 2013 by the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) radio telescope and displaying prominent FAIs. We study these FAIs in the new reference frame, quantifying field-aligned and field-transverse behavior, examining time and altitude dependencies, and extending the analysis to FAIs on subarray scales. We show that the inclination of the plane can be derived solely from the data and verify that the best fit value is consistent with the known magnetic inclination. The ability of the model to concentrate the fluctuations along a single spatial direction may find practical application to future calibration strategies for widefield interferometry, by providing a compact representation of FAI-induced distortions.

dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Ltd
dc.relation.sponsoredbyhttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE140100316
dc.titleA new angle for probing field-aligned irregularities with the Murchison Widefield Array
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume51
dcterms.source.number6
dcterms.source.startPage659
dcterms.source.endPage679
dcterms.source.issn0048-6604
dcterms.source.titleRadio Science
curtin.note

Copyright © 2016 The American Geophysical Union

curtin.departmentCurtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (Physics)
curtin.accessStatusOpen access


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