VLF Radio Astronomy: Research & Sources

In summary, there are several issues with conducting radio astronomy at very low frequencies, including the opacity of the interplanetary medium and interstellar medium to radio waves. However, there have been proposals and research done on using space-based telescopes for this purpose. Some relevant articles worth considering include "Combined LOPES and KASCADE-Grande Data Analysis," "The Sensitivity of First Generation Epoch of Reionization Observatories and Their Potential for Differentiating Theoretical Power Spectra," and "Motivation and possibilities of affordable low-frequency radio interferometry in space."
  • #1
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I'm not sure if this is a correct forum for this topic, but I'm wondering if there is any research done on VLF (very low frequency) radio astronomy. Obviously, such telescope would have to be in space, because all signals up to 15 MHz are reflected by the atmosphere.

If this was done or not, what would be possible sources in space of low frequency radio waves?
 
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  • #2
There are several problems with doing astronomy at low frequencies, not the least of which is that the IPM (and, if we could get beyond the IPM, the ISM) is opaque to radio waves, below the plasma frequency.
http://rsd-www.nrl.navy.mil/7213/weiler/kwpdf/lfap-1page.pdf" [Broken] gives a concise summary of one proposal.
 
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  • #3
Nice reference, Nereid! Here are some others worth a look:

Combined LOPES and KASCADE-Grande Data Analysis
http://www.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0510352

The Sensitivity of First Generation Epoch of Reionization Observatories and Their Potential for Differentiating Theoretical Power Spectra
http://www.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0507357

Motivation and possibilities of affordable low-frequency radio interferometry in space
http://www.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0207226
 

1. What is VLF radio astronomy?

VLF radio astronomy is the study of very low frequency (VLF) radio waves emitted by celestial objects in space. These waves have frequencies in the range of 3-30 kHz and are used to study objects such as pulsars, quasars, and other cosmic phenomena.

2. What are the sources of VLF radio waves?

VLF radio waves can be emitted from a variety of sources, including natural phenomena such as lightning, solar flares, and the Earth's ionosphere. They can also be artificially created by man-made devices such as radio transmitters.

3. How are VLF radio waves detected and studied?

VLF radio waves are detected using specialized radio receivers and antennas that are sensitive to the low frequencies. These signals are then analyzed and processed using various techniques to study their characteristics and origins.

4. What types of research are conducted using VLF radio astronomy?

VLF radio astronomy is used to study a wide range of astronomical phenomena, including the Earth's ionosphere, the interstellar medium, and the magnetic fields of celestial objects. It is also used to search for extraterrestrial life and to study the effects of solar activity on the Earth's atmosphere.

5. What are some current and future applications of VLF radio astronomy?

Some current applications of VLF radio astronomy include weather forecasting, communication with submarines, and navigation systems. In the future, VLF radio astronomy could also play a role in detecting and tracking potentially hazardous asteroids and studying the early universe.

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