Master of Science, Miami University, 2012, Computational Science and Engineering

Because of deficiencies in sampling resolution and storage space, the plasma line frequency component of the incoherent scatter radar (ISR) spectrum has been neglected in experimentally verifying ionospheric parameters. Several incoherent scatter theories were independently developed with confirmation from low resolution data in the 1960s that used the plasma line resonant frequency and plasma line peak intensity to derive ionospheric parameters. Now that higher resolution measurement techniques exist, this thesis investigates three methods for obtaining plasma line resonant frequency, peak intensity, and spectral width. Following this study, several salient features endemic to the ISR experiment performed on January 15-17th, and January 22nd of 2010 are presented and analyzed.

Committee: Qihou Zhou PhD (Advisor); Jade Morton PhD (Committee Member); Chi Hao Cheng PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Aeronomy; Electrical Engineering; Plasma Physics