Evidence of High Power HF Radiowave Self-Focusing in the Ionosphere: Preliminary Report of SURA-WIND Observations

Abstract

Experiments are currently being conducted using the Russian SURA ionospheric research facility in conjunction with the NASA/WIND satellite. One objective is to investigate the effects of interactions of high power, high frequency radiowaves with the earth's ionosphere. Recent experiments indicate that structured space plasmas along the propagation path impose a power law spectrum of intensity fluctuations on the transmitted waves, similar to scintillations. However, because the transmitted wave frequencies are near ionospheric plasma frequencies, other types of wave-plasma interactions may occur. One possible wave-plasma interaction is the self-focusing instability. In this brief report, we discuss preliminary results that suggest self-focusing was observed. The measurements can provide an important new diagnostic tool of high power radiowave interactions with the underdense ionosphere.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 29, 1999
Accession Number
ADA359489

Entities

People

  • M. Keskinen
  • P. Rodriguez
  • V. A. Alimov
  • Yu. I. Belov
  • Yu. V. Tokarev

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Charged Particles
  • Electrons
  • Frequency
  • Ground Based
  • Instability
  • Ionosphere
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Observation
  • Observatories
  • Research Facilities
  • Solar Wind
  • Space Based
  • Space Plasmas
  • Spacecraft
  • Wave Power

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster