| Alternative names | HIPAS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Organization | University of Alaska Fairbanks | ||
| Location | Fairbanks,Alaska, United States | ||
| Coordinates | 64°52′19″N146°50′31″W / 64.8719°N 146.842°W /64.8719; -146.842 | ||
| Altitude | 610 m (2,000 ft) | ||
| Established | 1980s | ||
| Closed | 2009 | ||
| Telescopes | |||
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  Location of HIPAS Observatory | |||
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TheHIPAS (HIgh Power Auroral Stimulation)Observatory was a research facility, built to study theionosphere and its influence onradio communications. It was located 25 miles east ofFairbanks,Alaska, in theFairbanks North Star Borough area.[1]
It was operated by theUCLAplasma physics laboratory from 1986 through 2007. A unique capability at that time, it could radiate 70 MWERP at either 2.85 MHz or 4.53 MHz. These frequencies are close to a multiple of 2 and 3 of the electron gyro-frequency at ionospheric altitudes. Sending a pulse of HF-radio waves upward could accelerate the electrons in the ionosphere. Somewhat like waves on the ocean, the character of the ionosphere could be inferred from thebackscatter signal. Other experiments attempted to combine RF and visible excitation where the latter probed metal ions such assodium.
The HIPAS facility also used aLIDAR (LIght Detection and Ranging) instrument. Other projects included:
TheHigh Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is a similar facility funded jointly by theUS Air Force andUS Navy.
The HIPAS facility was shut down and much of the equipment sold as surplus in the spring of 2010.[2][3]
