EFFECTS OF THE EARTH'S IONOSPHERE ON HF RADIO ASTRONOMY FROM ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES
Abstract
An analysis was made of some effects of the ionosphere on HF observations from satelliteborne radio telescopes. A search was conducted for focusing effects of the ionosphere on incoming cosmic noise in the HF band. The analysis covers a variety of cases, of interest for satellites in various orbital altitudes and with a wide range of observation frequencies. In this preliminary analysis, the ionosphere was considered to be a non-homogeneous, nonisotropic, magnetoionic medium. The electron-density profile in the calculations is illustrated. The earth's magnetic field was assumed to be dipole in nature. Ionospheric irregularities and discontinuities only for cases in which these disturbances are much larger in size than are the wavelengths considered. The effects of the ionosphere on incoming radiation was computed by employing a Hamiltonian optics approach. The necessary numerical procedures involved in the ray-tracing in relation to a program suitable for use in an IBM-7090 computer are discussed. Rays were computed and plotted for sources located at infinity and frequencies in the band 1-30 mc. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 02, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0264900
Entities
People
- K.m. Strom
- M.d. Grossi
- S.e. Strom
Organizations
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory