High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program
The HAARP ( High Frequency Active Auroral Research English Program) is an American civilian and military research program (in particular the ionosphere ) are used for the radio waves to study the upper atmosphere.
The Effective radiated power, ie measured in the axis of the main beam direction, in 2006 was up to 3.6 MW (95 dBW ).
A further aim is to explore radio wave propagation, communication and navigation. It is operated remote facility northeast of Gakona in Alaska from the University of Alaska, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. A total of 14 universities were involved in the planning of the system. There were also radar astronomical experiments, such as the Lunar Echo experiment with HAARP performed.
Physical background
Ionosphere contains many unbound free electrons can move helically around the lines of magnetic field of the earth. If the frequency and rotation direction of a parallel, circularly polarized electromagnetic wave, with the helical movement of the electrons match if so present cyclotron resonance, energy is withdrawn in favor of the shaft of the kinetic energy of the electrons. Ultimately, these electrons move faster resulting in a heating of the ionosphere.
This cyclotron resonance occurs in the northern hemisphere for left-circularly polarized electromagnetic waves in the lower shortwave range between 1 MHz and 9 MHz.
History and Technology
HAARP originated from (also patented ) research results of Bernard Eastlund and Nicholas Christofilos in the 1980s.
HAARP has a powerful phased array shortwave transmitter with a transmitting power (CW) of 3600 kW. Began in 1993 with 18 interconnected elements, 1998, the number was increased to 48. 2010, 180 stations operational. The Effective Radiated Power ( ERP) level in 1996 of 84 dBW (250 MW ) and 2006 at about 96 dBW (4000 MW). The individual transmitters of type Continental Electronics D616G with 10 kW maximum transmission power have been developed specifically for this project. The usable frequency range is located 2.8 up to 10 MHz ( HF ); two used frequencies are 3.39 MHz and 6.99 MHz. To Ionosphärenbeobachtung an ionosonde and a riometer used.
A short message in the mirror, Issue 6 of 7 February 2005, according to researchers, it is the U.S. Air Force managed to create artificial auroras with " high-energy radio waves " of HIPAS system.
It also hopes the findings ( particularly the reinforcing effect ) for influencing the electric jets in the Earth's magnetosphere to have a means to reduce the accumulation of charged particles above the contact with the hand that formed after the explosion of a nuclear explosive device in the near-Earth space there could stop and the function of satellites.
Similar research facilities
Similar research facilities are located in several other countries:
- Norway: Project EISCAT near Tromsø (1,000 MW ERP) and Spitsbergen
- USA: the older project HIPAS near Fairbanks (Alaska) and Arecibo / Puerto Rico
- Peru: Jicamarca Ionospheric Radio Observatory
A smaller plant was located in Lindau ( Lower Saxony) at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (formerly Aeronomy ).
Criticism
HAARP is referred to conspiracy theories as " secret project " and associated with the world held natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions. The BBC is widespread in the 1990s relevant reports. However, so far no causal relationship could be demonstrated, and it has been around for a long time other transmission equipment, the spread radio programs with comparable high radiation conditions. The BBC sets itself for decades shortwave transmitters, which allow an effective radiated power of about 100 MW. Radio Moscow reached already in the 1980s by combining several strong transmitters even effective omnidirectional radiation power of about 400 MW.
On 5 February 1998, the Subcommittee on Security and Disarmament led the European Parliament by a hearing, the treated HAARP among others. The result of this hearing went down in a resolution to the European Parliament, is expressed in deploring the information policy of the United States regarding HAARP and the need for further independent research on the effects of HAARP.
On the HAARP site is to read that the operation and research are not secret and research results will not be kept secret: "The HAARP program is completely Call unclassified. There are no classified documents pertaining to HAARP. "Civilian employees of the plant come from several universities or private companies, as of UCLA, MIT, University of Alaska, Stanford University, University of Massachusetts, Clemson University, Penn State University, Dartmouth College, University of Tulsa, University of Maryland and Cornell University. Pictures of the plant also are not subject to secrecy, and there are even two webcams of the HAARP facility, and a way online to see the current measurement results and save them. There are also regular " open days " and students can for internships in the HAARP station work.