High-Frequency Magnetic Loop for Heliophysics Exploration (HFLoop)

Radio emissions in MHz frequencies are widespread in the heliosphere. They include electromagnetic emissions commonly generated at the solar corona (type II and type III solar radio bursts) and at the magnetospheres of planets with sufficiently strong magnetic fields (Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus). Type II and type III solar radio bursts originate from the interplay of electron acceleration within solar flares. Type II bursts are characterized by frequency drift of ~1MHz/hour, and Type III bursts have much faster frequency drift (~1MHz/min). Terrestrial auroral kilometric radiation (0.03-1MHz) is intense radio emission from the electron cyclotron radiation in the aurora acceleration region. Decametric/decimeteric radio emissions (<100MHz) originate from the Jovian inner magnetosphere, as a result of the solar wind and the Galilean Io satellite interaction with energetic electron synchrotron (cyclotron) radiation. Most previous measurements of solar and planetary radio emissions have been limited to single-component electric fields by spacecraft wire antennas, or to only the high frequency part of the spectrum (above the ionospheric cutoff, >20MHz) by ground-based receivers (spectrometers). However, little is known about the magnetic field component of these emissions, their polarization, propagation properties, and source dynamics of the main (<20MHz) frequency range. Here we propose to develop a compact and lightweight magnetic field instrument for 3D radio burst exploration on small satellites, paving the way for a robust space weather surveillance system and creating a new experimental tool for planetary radio astronomy. The proposed high frequency magnetic loop (HFLoop) instrument , comprising three orthogonal loops, measures by induction the magnetic component of the radio signal and has significant advantages over electric field antennas: (i) the 3D magnetic signal readily provides the k-vector direction and polarization of the waves (since divB=0 always), (ii) the highly-sensitive loops can be much smaller (10-20cm in diameter) and easier to accommodate and deploy than long electric wire antennas, and (iii) the loops have sufficient sensitivity over a wide frequency range spanning both type II/III solar radio bursts and the aforementioned radio emissions at Earth and outer planets, allowing high-quality spectral characterization and direction finding with a single instrument. In fact, three orthogonal high-frequency magnetic loops are ideal for low-cost CubeSat investigations of solar radio bursts and planetary radio emissions. Together with electric antennas they can provide the wave phase velocity. Thus, HFloop is a critical contributor to wave analysis of future mission, either alone or in combination with electric field experiments. One-dimensional prototypes of the proposed instrument have already been demonstrated by the LPC2E (Orleans, France), and one was successfully flown on NASA's CHARM sounding rocket in 2010. Thus, the starting Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the proposed 3D magnetic loop system is 4. This project aims to make a major step forward by developing a 3D loop system that fits in a small satellite and environmentally testing it in its desired operational environment, targeting an ending TRL of 6. The proposed science objective, to investigate the magnetic component of solar and planetary radio emissions, addresses an important, long-standing need to detect, study, and elucidate generation mechanisms of type II/III solar radio bursts and planetary (primarily terrestrial and Jovian) radio emissions. The proposed advancement has the potential for making inroads in studies of exoplanet environments. It is directly aligned with the NASA Heliophysics Program objective to: explore and characterize the physical processes in the space environment from the Sun to the heliopause and throughout the universe.

Support NASA's Heliophysics strategic science objectives to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. This will be achieved by developing/demonstrating instrumentation technology necessary to address the following science goals: Explore the physical processes in the space environment from the Sun to the Earth and throughout the solar system; Advance our understanding of the connections that link the Sun, the Earth, planetary space environments, and the outer reaches of our solar system; Develop the knowledge and capability to detect and predict extreme conditions in space to protect life and society and to safeguard human and robotic explorers beyond Earth.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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