VFL-HF heating of the lower ionosphere and ELF wave generation

Journal Article · Fri Jan 03 04:00:00 UTC 1992 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91GL02771· OSTI ID:5362300

Taranenko, Y N; Inan, U S; Bell, T F ^[1]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

For incident wave power densities of 10{sup {minus}6} {minus} 10{sup {minus}2} W/m{sup 2} (at 30 km altitude), VLF heating of the D-region (< 90 km) is found to be 2-10 times more effective (depending on power) than HF heating, resulting in comparable perturbations of subionospheric VLF probe waves in spite of up to 10{sup 3} times larger power density utilized in HF heating and at least as efficient in ELF wave generation. In view of generally larger (100 {times} 100 km) area of the ionosphere illuminated by VLF transmitters, ELF wave generation by modulated VLF heating is estimated to produce ELF power levels of {approximately}100 mW, comparable with or larger than those produced in typical midlatitude ambient ionosphere occurs primarily via the modulation of Pedersen current whereas in a typical auroral ionosphere Hall current is dominant for pump wave frequencies up to {approximately}6 MHz. For 10-30 MHz and power densities > 10{sup {minus}4} W/m{sup 2}, Pedersen current modulation is again dominant, potentially providing up to 2-15 times higher ELF dipole moment than those found in recent experiments using 3-5 MHz heaters.

• OSTI ID: 5362300
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 19:1; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAL ZONES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURRENTS
D REGION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVALUATION
FERMIONS
HEATING
IONOSPHERE
LEPTONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA HEATING
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION