Modeling of HF Propagation and Heating in the Ionosphere
Abstract
The purpose of the program of research reported here is to develop and demonstrate a realistic numerical model for self-consistent ionospheric propagation and heating of powerful frequency (HF) waves by conjoining existing, separate numerical models for high frequency wave propagation and ionospheric transport. A comprehensive numerical implementation of plasma geometric optics has been enhanced and adapted to the problem of self-consistent ionospheric propagation of high power, high frequency radar signals. The emphasis in this work is on the realistic and rigorous description of the propagation waves so that geometric and spectral characteristics of nonlinear ionospheric effects can be predicted in detail. The plasma geometric optics code has been used in conjunction with an ionospheric transport code to determine self-consistently the HF radiation field and quasilinear modifications of ionospheric plasma properties due to ohmic dissipation of the HF radiation. This allows detailed study of nonlinear phenomena such as beam self-focusing formation of large-scale density cavities and striations, and induced wave ducting. Overviews of the theory underlying the existing models of radiation propagation and ohmic power deposition are given, and enhancements to these models are described. New results achieved using the enhanced models are shown and the treatment of a self-consistent propagation and heating problem is presented. Ray Tracing, Ionospheric Modification, Over-the-Horizon Radar Propagation, Ionospheric HF propagation, HF Heating of Ionosphere, Ionospheric Clutter.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA253941
Entities
People
- Denise Hinkel
- Merit Shoucri
- Thomas Wagner
- Timothy Smith