Modification of the Ionospheric Electron Velocity Distribution Function due to Resonant Absorption of HF Waves,
Abstract
The nonlinear modification of the electron distribution function caused by the interaction with a resonant electrostatic field is studied analytically using a perturbation analysis. This interaction produces tail heating, and for a range of parameter values, can form a bump in the distribution, which leads to emission of secondary waves. These results are applied to the ionosphere's F and upper E regions in the context of ionospheric modification experiments using ground-based powerful HF transmitters. Analogies between our results and experimental measurements are discussed. The purpose of the present work is to calculate the modification in the electron velocity distribution function resulting from the resonant excitation of electrostatic oscillations in the ionosphere. It is hoped that the analytic results may help illuminate some of the various experimentally observed phenomena, and perhaps suggest new experiments which would probe the nature of the electron acceleration mechanisms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA163025
Entities
People
- George J. Morales
- J. E. Maggs
- Merit Shoucri
Organizations
- University of California, Los Angeles