Enhancement of EM-Ionosphere interaction through Plasma Lens and Frequency Chirping
Abstract
During ionospheric modification, both satellite beacons and sky maps from digital ionosonde measurements have detected large-density perturbation. This perturbation reaches a maximum when the incident HF matches the plasma frequency on the density plateau (or at f_oF2 layer). Experiments and theories are presented which describe how a plasma lens can be created at a lower altitude by pre-conditioning the ionosphere at a lower altitude; the lowering of plasma density at the center of the heated region causes a change in the index of refraction, thereby forming an equivalent ionospheric lens^1. Unlike earlier results obtained at Arecibo Observatory^2 using water molecules injected by a rocket, our concept is simpler and can be repeated many times. Another enhancement of interaction comes from the chirping of the heating frequency such that all the waves converge at the resonant layer at a particular time^3. Work supported by SDSU. ^1 A.Y. Wong, Proceedings of Ionsopheric Interactions Workshop, Santa Fe, NM, April, 2002. ^2 M. Sulzer, private communication. ^3 S. Cowley and E. Valeo, private communication.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002APS..DPPCP1011P