Vår 2023

FYS-3002 Techniques for investigating the near-earth space environment - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for fysikk og teknologi

Type of course

The course is available as a singular course. The course is also available to exchange students and Fulbright students.

The course will only be taught if there is a sufficient number of students. Are you interested in following the course, please contact the student advisor as soon as possible

Course overlap

FYS-320 Techniques for Investigating the near-Earth Space Environment 10 stp

Course contents

The course gives an introduction to some of the principle techniques and instruments commonly used in atmospheric, ionospheric and magnetospheric research. The main emphasis is placed on the incoherent scatter radar technique (e.g. the EISCAT radar system), but auxiliary instruments such as lidars (ALOMAR system), magnetometers, riometers, optical equipment, specific satellite and rocket instrumentation may also be discussed. The auxiliary part of the course content is dynamic in order to reflect the interests of the participating students. The incoherent scatter technique covers about 70 percent of the course, and the content is focused on universal aspects of volume scattering, the scattering from density fluctuations in plasma, derivation of the power density spectrum and discussion of the retrieved ionospheric parameters. We proceed with considering the effects of measurement errors due to the random nature of the received signal. The first part of the course ends with radar fundamentals such as the radar equation for a diffuse target, the concept of a range-time diagram, pulse coding techniques and the effects of different modulation and detection schemes.

Application deadline

Applicants from countries within EU/EEA: June 1st for the autumn semester and December 1st for the spring semester.

Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements are a Bachelor's degree in physics or similar education, including specialization in physics worth the equivalent of not less than 80 ECTS credits. Local admission, application code 9371 - singular courses at Master's level.

Objective of the course

Knowledge - The student can

explain the incoherent scatter radar (ISR) technique
identify and describe the physical features of a power density spectrum
understand the principle of analysis of ISR data
understand the principles of different pulse-coding schemes for a selection of experiments
explain the basic principles of auxiliary instrumentation

Skills - The student can

start planning incoherent scatter radar experiments
interpret spectral signatures evaluate measurement errors
start operating an IS radar interpret data from auxiliary instrumentation

General expertise - The student can

discuss the applicability of various instruments for space research
discuss and communicate basic radar fundamentals

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English and all of the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English, but may be answered either in English or a Scandinavian language.

Teaching methods

Lectures: 40 hours

Project work/seminars: 40 hours

The course will be taught through a combination of instruction and practical exercises and may include fieldwork at the major observational sites in northern Norway.

Date for examination

Oral exam 16.05.2023

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.