Photometric Studies of Modified Ionospheric Behavior
Abstract
The report describes the method developed for detecting radio frequency heating of the electrons in the F region through attendant effects on the intensity of radiation from excited oxygen atoms in that region of the ionosphere. The changes in the F region of the ionosphere produced by r.f. energy from a powerful (1.6 Mw) ground-based transmitter at Platteville, Colorado, were detected optically by a spatial-scanning filter photometer constructed for the purpose. At low electron temperatures and small r.f. heating, the intensity of the atomic oxygen (1D to 3P) 6300A radiation is decreased (suppressed) as a result of reduced electron-ion recombination production of excited oxygen atoms in the 1D state. At higher electron temperatures and/or stronger r.f. heating, the 6300A intensity is increased (ENHANCED) as a result of electron impact excitation of ground state (3P) oxygen atoms to the excited (1D) state.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0733563
Entities
People
- D. P. Sipler
- M. A. Biondi
- R. D. Hake
Organizations
- University of Pittsburgh