HEATING OF THE ELECTRONS IN THE F REGION OF THE IONOSPHERE
Abstract
An experiment to cause artificial changes in the electron-density profile of the F region of the ionosphere was conducted in order to experimentally verify the theoretical conclusion that the electrons in the F region could be artificially heated by a radio wave. An antenna array, fed by a 40 kw transmitter, was used to illuminate a portion of the ionosphere at a frequency slightly below the critical frequency. An absorption of energy from this beam by the electrons in this layer was expected, thereby in creasing the average electron temperature and modifying the density profile. With the equipment used for this experiment, a 3 1/2-percent decrease in the maximum of the electron- density profile, corresponding to a reduction of 135 kc in the observed critical frequency 7700 kc, was expected. A phase-path sounder used to measure changes in the phase-path height, and vertical incidence sounder used to measure the virtual height, (both estimated to be sensitive to a 50-kc change in the critical frequency) were un able to detect any changes in several trials of the experiment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0405334
Entities
People
- T. Potemra
Organizations
- Stanford University