HYDROMAGNETIC SIGNALS IN THE IONOSPHERE,

Abstract

The equations which govern the propagation of hydromagnetic signals in a spatially inhomogeneous, multi-species, anisotropic ionosphere are derived and applied to several situations. Numerical results for the dependence of the ionospheric refractive indices on height and signal frequency are presented and discussed. Simplified model ionospheres, characterized by the refractive idices, are used to compute the ground-level magnetic signals produced by hydromagnetic waves incident normally from above, upon the collision-dominated lower ionosphere. Magnetic disturbances, which were observed at great distances from the high-altitude Argus nuclear explosions, are considered and are shown to have been probably hydromagnetic in origin. Also, it is shown that, in principle, the ionosphere is capable of supporting hydromagnetic surface waves. The relevant equations for the case of propagation across the geomagnetic field lines are derived and discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0421842

Entities

People

  • E. C. Field

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Collisions
  • Equations
  • Explosions
  • Frequency
  • Ground Level
  • High Altitude
  • Ionosphere
  • Magnetic Disturbances
  • Nuclear Explosions
  • Refractive Index
  • Surface Waves
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.