IVORY CORAL Applications and Diagnostics
Abstract
The purpose of this section is to discuss the outstanding features of the phenomena of artificial spread F (ASF) and wide-band attenuation (WBA) and their relevance to defense applications. The ionosphere is a generally homogeneous, horizontally stratified plasma with relatively predictable characteristics. Its relative horizontal stratification permits its use for long-range communications and DF and OHD. Its relative uniformity permits radar and space telemetry systems to look through it without degradation. On the other hand, this uniformity prevents its use for backscatter communications except under special circumstances (e.g., meteors) which require large antennas. The potential applications of IVORY CORAL arises from the reversing of all these previous properties of the ionosphere. ASF destroys the uniformity and horizontal stratification of the ionosphere, and creates irregularities (probably field aligned) that can sustain backscatter at HF. This effect is initiated with substantial heating transmitter powers, but so rapidly that only 10 to the 6th power Joules are involved for an effect that extends over hundreds of km.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0523292
Entities
People
- S. A. Bowhill