Controlled artificial generation of ultra-low-frequency hydromagnetic waves in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Final report January 1975--February 1977

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6473629

Villard, Jr, O G; Helliwell, R A; Fraser-Smith, A C; Bell, T F; Bubenik, D M

The primary purpose of this work was to investigate the possibility of obtaining a relatively inexpensive method for the controlled artificial generation of ultra-low-frequency (ULF-frequencies less than 5 Hz) geomagnetic pulsations. Because of the great penetration of these signals in sea water, the controlled artificial source could conceivably be used as a transmitter to communicate with deeply submerged receivers at a low data rate. A second purpose of the work was to investigate the feasibility of using airborne loop antennas for air/undersea communication at ULF. The following are the major conclusions of this work; (1) The controlled artificial generation of ULF geomagnetic pulsations by the 'peninsula method,' i.e., by the passage of a ULF-modulated electric current around a relatively nonconducting peninsula in the sea or in a large saline lake, is feasible and further experiments, in particular, a fullscale ULF wave generation experiment, appear desirable. (2) The controlled artificial generation of ULF geomagnetic pulsations by the 'VLF method,' i.e., by the injection of ULF-modulated VLF signals into the magnetosphere from a large ground-based VLF transmitter, appears possible, but further theoretical and experimental studies are required to clarify the generation mechanism.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (USA). Stanford Electronics Labs.
• OSTI ID: 6473629
• Report Number(s): AD-A-052353; SU-SEL-77-029; FR-4207-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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Ionospheric
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71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DISTURBANCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FREQUENCY RANGE
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
HZ RANGE
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MODIFICATIONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PULSATIONS
RADIATIONS
ULTRALOW FREQUENCY RADIATION