AN FM TECHNIQUE FOR OBSERVATION OF VLF WHISTLER-MODE PROPAGATION,

Abstract

Natural whistlers and signals from VLF transmitters were employed in studying whistler-mode propagation. The usefulness of whistler is restricted by the relative lack of information concerning lightning-source parameters, while relatively poor multipath resolution was obtained using the signals of VLF transmitters. A controlled-source experiment intended to overcome these disadvantages is described. When a VLF transmitter is frequency modulated, high resolution of multipath signals is theoretically possible. The FM technique for detecting and resolving whistler-mode signals is based on the observation of amplitude modulation of the direct subionospheric signals due to the presence of whistler-mode signals. Travel time of the whistler-mode signal is associated with the periodicity of the envelope changes of the composite signal. Factors such as signal dispersion, value of modulation parameters, and instrumental effects are considered with regard to their influence on detection and resolution. An actual FM experiment was conducted employing transmissions from NPG (18.6 kc) at Jim Creek, Washington. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0429891

Entities

People

  • George B. Carpenter

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude
  • Amplitude Modulation
  • Automatic
  • Composite Materials
  • Detection
  • Dispersions
  • Frequency
  • High Resolution
  • Lightning
  • Modulation
  • Observation
  • Transmitters
  • Travel Time
  • Whistlers

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Nanofabrication and Microfabrication.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.