Methods and Applications of Computer Raytracing
Abstract
For about five years, considerable effort was devoted at this laboratory to the exploitation of the digital computer as a means for simulating ionospheric radio propagation and associated signal processing. Stress was placed on simulation of oblique propagation at HF by the most practical means, engineering the programs to achieve economical operation. The computer processes consist mainly of ionospheric structural analysis and coding, raytracing, and the subsequent use of ray trajectory data to simulate the operation of complete ionospheric radio systems. The report summarizes the conclusions which have been drawn from the work, including much technical data, some programming details, and hopefully some insight into the optimum methods for doing this work. Also, there is a considerable amount of information inherently contained in these data which bear on the understanding of the propagation simulated. Many applications of raytracing are discussed, and many useful programming or plotting techniques are described, some for the first time. Finally, a number of plotted examples are given to show what can be achieved by these methods and to illustrate selected aspects of ionospheric propagation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0853356
Entities
People
- Thomas A. Croft
Organizations
- Stanford University