Plasma instabilities stimulated by HF transmitters in space

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Radio Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/RS023i004p00585· OSTI ID:6593776

Benson, R F; Vinas, A F

Diffuse incoherent signal returns are often observed on Alouette and ISIS topside ionograms in addition to coherent echoes of electromagnetic and electrostatic waves. These diffuse signals, which at times can be the dominant features on topside ionograms, have been attributed to sounder-induced temperature anisotropies which drive the Harris instability. Previous theoretical investigations were based on the electrostatic approximation to the dispersion equation. The present paper will present calculations indicating that when the electromagnetic terms are retained in the dispersion equation and when the sounder-stimulated perpendicular electron temperature approaches 1 keV, then the whistler mode can have a temporal growth rate larger than the electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic wave mode central to the diffuse resonance problem. Present sounders lack the power and antenna lengths to generate whistler mode waves in this manner. In addition, such waves would have large group velocities and would quickly leave the vicinity of the sounder. Experiments to investigate the wave growth, propagation, and damping of such stimulated waves are planned for the 1990s using a highly flexible sounder on the Space Shuttle and a receiver on a subsatellite. 30 references.

• Research Organization: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6593776
• Journal Information: Radio Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Radio Sci.; (United States) Vol. 23; ISSN RASCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANISOTROPY
DISTURBANCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
INSTABILITY
IONOSONDES
IONOSPHERE
NOISE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATIONS
RADIO EQUIPMENT
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
WAVE PROPAGATION
WHISTLERS