Radar and Ionospheric Physics

The Adelaide Radar Research Centre (AR2C) has over a decade of experience in fundamental and applied research in radar systems.

Core capabilities

• Fundamental scientific research: atmospheric physics, signal processing techniques
• Applications: detection, radar imaging, weather monitoring, GPS systems, passive radar systems
• Education and research training: higher degree by research supervision (PhD, Masters) and Honours research projects

Key collaborations

Key scientific partners:

• Defence Science & Technology Group
• Bureau of Meteorology

Industry partners:

• Raytheon
• ATRAD
• GPSat

Key contacts

There has been a recent increase space situational awareness. In particular the need to maintain and increase research in the Ionosphere is essential to provide the future graduates who will be support defence assets, such as JORN which will be upgrade to extend its life till past 2042.

Core capabilities

• Modelling dynamical coupling between regions of the atmosphere which affect the Ionosphere.
• Ionospheric Modelling (including ionospheric model generation and propagation).
• Adjunct appointments of past and present DST Group to support supervision of Postgraduate students and teaching into Ionospheric Physics course, to help produce the next generation of Ionospheric physicists.
• Multiple Atmospheric Radars, including HF radars, used for fundamental research and as a training test-bed utilized by students in their own studies and research.
• Meteor Physics research focussing on the lower ionosphere.

Key collaborations

Key scientific partners:

• Defence Science & Technology Group, SSID
• Bureau of Meteorology, Space Weather Services

Industry partners:

• ATRAD

Key contact

Associate Professor Andrew MacKinnon
Email: andrew.mackinnon@adelaide.edu.au
Phone: +61 8313 3875

School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide