Theoretical Predictions for VLF Radio Propagation

Abstract

The very low frequency (VLF, 3 to 30 kHz) part of the radio frequency spectrum is characterized by low attenuation rate, high phase and frequency stability, and high signal to noise ratio. Consequently, VLF radio propagation is used for many practical applications, e.g., frequency standardization, clock synchronization, and reliable long-distance radio communications. Because of the distinct advantages of VLF radio propagation, the U.S. Navy will be conducting a balloon-to-balloon-borne cross link communication experiment to study the characteristics of VLF altitude radio propagation. In this Technical Report, an attempt has been made to make theoretical computations of the vertical components of the individual and multimode field strengths as a function of distance based on mode theory. The variations of various ionospheric parameters, e.g., attenuation rates, the heights of the ionospheric reflection point, the height gain factors for an appropriate combination of the transmitting and receiving antenna elevations, along with the presence of the earth's geomagnetic field, especially for the East-West propagation, have been duly considered.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 22, 1983
Accession Number
ADA133168

Entities

People

  • M. P. Paul

Organizations

  • Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Amplitude
  • Attenuation
  • Classification
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Electric Fields
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Elevation
  • Frequency
  • Gain
  • Ground Based
  • Multimode
  • Reflection
  • Security
  • Transmitting
  • Very Low Frequency
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.