Physics of the Geospace Response to Powerful HF Radio Waves

Abstract

This report describes the results of studies of the response of the Earth's space plasma to high-power HF radio waves from the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility in Alaska under the 2010-2012 AFOSR task `Physics of the Geospace Response to Powerful HF Radio Waves'. A first-principle model of a HF-created ionizing wave has been developed, quantitatively explaining the observed artificial plasma layers. The FLIP model has been adapted to the conditions of HF heating and explored to simulate artificial ducts. DMSP-HAARP experiments revealed that HF-created ion outflows and artificial density ducts in the topside ionosphere appeared faster than predicted by the models, pointing to kinetic (suprathermal) effects. CHAMP/GRACE-HAARP experiments presented the first evidence of F2-region atmospheric gravity waves generated by HF heating. A novel 3D numerical model of nonlinear interactions of lower hybrid waves with plasma particles has been explored. The resulting spectral energy distribution virtually reproduced the satellite observations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 31, 2012
Accession Number
ADA569091

Entities

People

  • Evgeny Mishin

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Electrons
  • Frequency
  • Gravity Waves
  • Ionosphere
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Observation
  • Physics
  • Radiation
  • Radio Waves
  • Space Sciences
  • Spacecraft
  • Spectral Energy Distribution
  • Vehicles
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space