A New Technique for Radar Meteor Speed Determination: Inter-pulse Phase Changes from Head Echoes

Abstract

We have implemented a 54 MHz radar located near Adelaide, South Australia, for novel forms of meteor observation. Here we describe a radically new form of meteor speed determination: we measure the rate of phase change for head echoes obtained from meteors propagating down the beam towards the radar. These not only provide speeds of unprecedented precision, but also deliver accurate deceleration measurements, these being of importance in understanding the meteoroid ablation process and exploring the physical parameters of such bodies.