arXiv subjects

R. K. Choudhary

Publications and source records attributed to R. K. Choudhary.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Study on the Venusian Atmospheric Thermal Structure: A Comparative Analysis between VEX/Akatsuki and Venus-GRAM/VCD

We investigate the thermal structure of the Venusian middle atmosphere between 45 and 80 km using radio occultation (RO) measurements from Venus Express and Akatsuki spanning 2006-2024. Retrieved temperature profiles are compared with climatological predictions from the Venus-GRAM and the Venus Climate Database (VCD). Systematic deviations exceeding 10 K are observed between the RO temperatures and model climatologies, particularly at high latitudes in both hemispheres. The long-term dataset further reveals a possible decadal-scale temporal variability in temperatures across the low-to-mid latitude regions. This variability becomes less coherent at higher altitudes. A combination of post-stratification and bootstrap analysis on the temperature anomalies indicates that the observed temporal variability at low-to-mid and polar latitudes is not readily explained by the latitudinal sampling bias quantified using the adopted analysis, while the trends at mid-to-high latitudes are affected by sparse and uneven RO sounding. Sensitivity tests using modified cloud albedo inputs in VCD simulations show that adjusting cloud radiative forcing partially reconciles the discrepancies, especially at the lower altitudes, below 60 km. However, above the cloud top, at the lower latitudes, the divergence from the observations increases significantly, thereby failing to provide a general reconciliation between VCD and RO. These results highlight the need for updated empirical climatologies incorporating recent RO measurements and for improved physical parameterizations in Venus general circulation models to better capture the global variability in the planet's middle atmosphere.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

Plasma Turbulence in the Lunar Environment Across Solar Wind and Magnetotail Conditions: Observations from Chandrayaan-2 Radio Science experiment

The Moon's transit between the solar wind and Earth's magnetotail exposes the near-lunar environment to large and rapid variations in plasma density and flow structure. Two-way coherent S-band radio occultation measurements from Chandrayaan-2 were used to quantify electron-density fluctuations integrated along the Earth-Moon line of sight. Observed frequencies were processed to remove geometric Doppler contributions derived from relativistic light-time modeling. The remaining frequency residuals represent the cumulative effect of plasma irregularities along the ray path. Power spectral densities were computed for 54 intervals from 2022, yielding temporal spectral indices in the range $1.05 \le α\le 2.66$, corresponding to spatial indices $4.05 \le p \le 5.66$ indicating ion-kinetic and dissipation-range scales. Of the 54 intervals, 9 were classified as inside the modeled magnetopause, 17 in the bow shock/magnetosheath, and 28 in the solar wind. Spectral indices measured inside the magnetopause are marginally higher than those in the bow shock and solar wind, though the difference is not statistically significant given the limited magnetotail sample. No measurable correlation is found between spectral slope and geomagnetic activity, indicating that the observed variability is dominated by local plasma structure rather than inner-magnetospheric conditions.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

A study on the contribution of the interplanetary medium in radio occultation experiments

Irregularities in electron density within the interplanetary medium (IPM) can cause fluctuations in the Doppler frequency of spacecraft radio signals. The amplitude of these fluctuations depends on factors such as the carrier frequency, propagation geometry, and link configuration. However, quantitative characterization of these effects across different frequencies in various occultation experiments is currently limited. We analyze five complementary datasets: two-way S-band observations from Chandrayaan-3 outside the lunar ionosphere, two-way S-band data from Chandrayaan-2 during lunar occultation, one-way S/X band measurements from the Venus Express Radio Science (VeRa)/Akatsuki Radio Science (Akatsuki) under IPM-only conditions, and one-way X-band Akatsuki data during solar occultation. The Chandrayaan-3 and Akatsuki IPM observations isolate IPM effects by excluding contributions from planetary atmospheres, the lunar ionosphere, and, except during solar occultation, the solar corona. Chandrayaan-3 data sample dynamically evolving Earth-Moon geometries and exhibit weak, mHz-level Doppler fluctuations, while Chandrayaan-2 observations provide near-lunar plasma benchmarks with higher amplitudes, during quiet time solar and geomagnetic conditions. Akatsuki and VeRa's IPM-only measurements capture long-path interplanetary effects, whereas Akatsuki solar occultation data reveal strong coronal signatures. Power spectral density analysis indicates Kolmogorov-like turbulence for lunar occultation and solar occultation cases, while IPM-only spectra show low-amplitude fluctuations. These results quantify the IPM contribution to Doppler noise, demonstrate the enhanced plasma sensitivity of two-way coherent links, and provide constraints relevant to turbulence modelling, precision spacecraft tracking, and the interpretation of radio occultation experiments.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

A generalized method for estimating solar wind speeds and densities using spectral broadening for a Kolmogorov turbulence spectrum

We present a unified method to derive both solar wind velocities and coronal electron densities in the near-Sun corona using Doppler spectral broadening of spacecraft radio signals. The method is generalized to be frequency independent under the assumption that electron density fluctuations follow a Kolmogorov spectrum. We validate the approach using S-band data from India's Mars Orbiter Mission during the October 2021 superior conjunction at 5-8 R$_\odot$, and X-band data from Japan's Akatsuki during June 2016 and October 2022 conjunctions spanning 1.4-10 R$_\odot$. From S-band we obtained wind speeds of 100-150 km s$^{-1}$ and electron densities of order $10^{10}$ m$^{-3}$. X-band results show speeds ranging from $\sim$150 km s$^{-1}$ near the equator to $\sim$400 km s$^{-1}$ in coronal-hole regions, with consistent radial trends in density. We provide a compact, frequency-scaled relation that maps Doppler spectral width to both $v$ and $N_e$. The formulation enables consistent application across telecommunication bands and complements in-situ probes for coronal plasma studies.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

A turbulence index independent framework for deriving solar wind speed and coronal electron density from radio spectral broadening

We present a turbulence index independent framework for simultaneously deriving solar wind velocity and coronal electron density in the near-Sun region using the spectral broadening of spacecraft radio signals. The formulation accommodates arbitrary turbulence spectral indices ($p$), providing a direct analytical link between the observed Doppler spectra and underlying plasma parameters without assuming a fixed turbulence regime. This generalization extends conventional radio occultation techniques and enables consistent interpretation across multiple radio frequencies. We apply the method to X-band ($\sim$ 8.41 GHz) radio occultation measurements from JAXA's Akatsuki spacecraft during the 2016 and 2022 Venus - Earth superior conjunctions, spanning heliocentric distances of 1.4 - 10 $R_{\odot}$ and sampling both equatorial streamer regions and mid-latitude coronal holes. The retrieved electron densities exhibit systematic trends consistent with empirical coronal models and in-situ observations. By coupling the measured spectral widths with a turbulence-based frequency-scaling relation, we obtain a compact expression that links spectral broadening, solar wind speed, and electron density, applicable for any turbulence index $p$. Fast-solar-wind intervals, characterized by nearly isotropic turbulence, yield speed estimates in close agreement with expectations, while the anisotropic nature of the slow solar wind introduces small but systematic deviations. Our results refine earlier work and demonstrate that explicit consideration of near-coronal turbulence anisotropy is essential for accurate solar-wind parameter retrievals.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

On the estimation of Sulfuric Acid Vapor concentrations below the Venus cloud deck using the Akatsuki Radio Science Experiment

We report new constraints on the vertical distribution of sulfuric acid vapor in the Venusian atmosphere, derived from a refined analysis of radio occultation (RO) data. The method estimates the power spectral density (PSD) of the received signal to recover both the signal intensity and the Doppler shift. The received signal power is estimated at 1-sec cadence which enhances the sensitivity and detection of the signal at lower altitudes of Venus, even in regions of high atmospheric opacity. After correcting total attenuation for refractive losses, absorption by known microwave absorbers is removed, leaving a residual signal attributable to sulfuric acid vapor. Two different methods of estimating the absorption due to Sulfur Dioxide have been presented, including one which incorporates in-situ data, which should better constrain the sulfuric acid vapor abundance below the clouds. Retrieved profiles for altitudes of 40 - 50 km reveal an increasing vapor abundance to more than 10 ppm below the clouds, and a sharp decline above 50 km in line with the expected saturation profile. These measurements agree with current models of the Venusian cloud structure and composition, and demonstrate that RO data, when coupled with optimized spectral analysis, can yield quantitative constraints on trace absorbers in optically thick atmospheres.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2025

Observations of the fluctuations in Interplanetary Magnetic Field around L1 point during the solar transient events of 2024 with MAG payload onboard Aditya-L1 spacecraft

The MAG payload onboard India's first solar mission, Aditya-L1, is a dual-senssor fluxgate magnetometer designed to measure th interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) while operating in a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (l1). Since becoming operational in January 2024, MAG has continuously recorded local magnetic field data and has captured several solar transient events over the past one year. During these events, the IMF, typically around 5 nT, exhibited significant enhancements in magnitude. This study focuses on three such solar events observed in March, May, and October 2024. Analysis of the magnetic field power spectra during these events reveals fluctuations consistent with Kolmogorov type turbulence, characterized by a spectral slope close to -5/3. To emphasize changes in spectral behavior, the event-day spectra are compared with those from a day when the quiet solar wind conditions prevail. A marked contrast is observed: while the quiet periods exhibit anisotropic turbulence, the extreme events display quasi-isotropic behavior, with spectral slopes closely following the Kolmogorov spectrum across all three IMF components. The results, including detailed variations in spectral slope and turbulence characteristics, are presented and discussed in this paper.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

On the estimation of solar wind velocity under varying solar activity conditions using Akatsuki measurements

We present an analysis of solar wind dynamics based on Doppler spectral width measurements of X-band radio signals from the Japanese Akatsuki spacecraft. The dataset includes two solar conjunction occultation experiments conducted in 2016 and 2022, capturing the transition from the descending phase of Solar Cycle 24, a period of low solar activity, to the ascending phase of Solar Cycle 25, which exhibited moderate to intense activity. Our study demonstrates the utility of this technique for estimating both slow and fast solar wind velocities across different phases of solar activity. A key focus is the 2022 experiment, which probed the solar corona near coronal holes at heliocentric distances ranging from 1.4 to 10 $R_\odot$. We also investigate the impact of electron density estimates on the accuracy of solar wind speed determinations, underscoring the need for improved electron density modeling to enhance the robustness of such measurements.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Insights into Solar Wind Flow Speeds from the Coronal Radio occultation Experiment: Findings from the Indian Mars Orbiter Mission

Using data collected by the Indian Mars Orbiter Mission in October 2021, we investigated coronal regions of the Sun by analyzing the Doppler spectral width of radio signals to estimate solar wind velocity. A simplified equation is introduced to directly relate these two parameters. The study focuses on observations conducted from October 2 to October 14, 2021, a relatively quiet phase of solar cycle 25. The analysis targeted the coronal region within heliocentric distances of 5-8 RSun, near the ecliptic plane. In this region, solar wind velocities ranged from 100 to 150 kms^-1, while electron densities were on the order of 10^10 m^(-3). We also compared our results with electron density observations and models derived from previous studies. Though the decrease in the electron densities with respect to increasing helio-centric distance matches quite well with the theoretical models, MOM estimates fall at the lower edge of the distribution. This difference may be attributed to the prolonged weak solar activity during the MOM observations, in contrast to prior studies conducted during periods of comparatively higher solar activity in earlier solar cycles.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

Turbulence dynamics and flow speeds in the inner solar corona: Results from radio-sounding experiments by the Akatsuki spacecraft

The solar inner corona is a region that plays a critical role in energizing the solar wind and propelling it to supersonic and supra-Alfvenic velocities. Despite its importance, this region remains poorly understood because of being least explored due to observational limitations. The coronal radio sounding technique in this context becomes useful as it helps in providing information in parts of this least explored region. To shed light on the dynamics of the solar wind in the inner corona, we conducted a study using data obtained from coronal radio-sounding experiments carried out by the Akatsuki spacecraft during the 2021 Venus-solar conjunction event. By analyzing X-band radio signals recorded at two ground stations (IDSN in Bangalore and UDSC in Japan), we investigated plasma turbulence characteristics and estimated flow speed measurements based on isotropic quasi-static turbulence models. Our analysis revealed that the speed of the solar wind in the inner corona (at heliocentric distances from 5 to 13 solar radii), ranging from 220-550 km/sec, was higher than the expected average flow speeds in this region. By integrating our radio-sounding results with EUV images of the solar disk, we gained a unique perspective on the properties and energization of high-velocity plasma streams originating from coronal holes. We tracked the evolution of fast solar wind streams emanating from an extended coronal hole as they propagated to increasing heliocentric distances. Our study provides unique insights into the least-explored inner coronal region by corroborating radio sounding results with EUV observations of the corona.

astro-ph.SR↗