Grating formation by a high power radio wave in near-equator ionosphere

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3656944· OSTI ID:22047044

Singh, Rohtash; Sharma, A K; Tripathi, V K ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016 (India)

The formation of a volume grating in the near-equator regions of ionosphere due to a high power radio wave is investigated. The radio wave, launched from a ground based transmitter, forms a standing wave pattern below the critical layer, heating the electrons in a space periodic manner. The thermal conduction along the magnetic lines of force inhibits the rise in electron temperature, limiting the efficacy of heating to within a latitude of few degrees around the equator. The space periodic electron partial pressure leads to ambipolar diffusion creating a space periodic density ripple with wave vector along the vertical. Such a volume grating is effective to cause strong reflection of radio waves at a frequency one order of magnitude higher than the maximum plasma frequency in the ionosphere. Linearly mode converted plasma wave could scatter even higher frequency radio waves.

• OSTI ID: 22047044
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 18, Issue 11; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
AMBIPOLAR DIFFUSION
ASTROPHYSICS
DISTURBANCES
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
EQUATOR
ION TEMPERATURE
IONOSPHERE
LANGMUIR FREQUENCY
LAYERS
PARTIAL PRESSURE
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RF SYSTEMS
STANDING WAVES
THERMAL CONDUCTION