Comparison of different mechanisms of low-frequency radio wave ionospheric generation by powerful RF facilities

Generation of ELF/VLF waves in the ionosphere using powerful RF facilities were studied both theoretically and experimentally since the 70th. During this time, it was suggested a several different physical mechanisms for explaining the processes occurring in the plasma, which caused the low-frequency radiation from the ionosphere. The firstly discovered phenomena of generation the VLF signals in experiments with 100kW facility in Russia (Radiophysical Research Institute) was attribute to modulation of ionospheric currents based on thermal nonlinearity. This mechanism was confirmed by numerous experiments at powerful instruments like SURA, Arecibo, EISCAT/Tromso heater, HAARP. It was shown in experiments at SURA facility in the end of 80th the possibility of generation the VLF signals at frequency bands 10-20 kHz which was caused by cubic nonlinearity and possibility of formation of the ionospheric traveling VLF wave antenna. The last experiments at HAARP displayed the effectiveness of ponderomotive mechanisms for generation both VLF and ELF signals (Popadopoulos, Kuo). The results of numerical simulation of nonlinear currents caused by different mechanisms of ULF/VLF ionospheric generations are presented in this report. The comparison of different mechanisms in low and upper ionosphere under daytime and night conditions is presented. This work was supported by a RFBR grant 11-02-00419-a.