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Modulation of auroral electrojet currents using dual modulated HF beams with ELF phase offset, a potential D‐region ionospheric diagnostic
Author(s) -
Gołkowski M.,
Cohen M. B.,
Moore R. C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/jgra.50230
Subject(s) - ionosphere , electrojet , amplitude , offset (computer science) , geophysics , physics , waveform , phase (matter) , zenith , optics , computational physics , earth's magnetic field , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , voltage , computer science , programming language
Experiments at the ionospheric heating facility of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) are performed employing dual HF beams amplitude modulated at ELF/VLF with a phase offset between the two modulation waveforms. The amplitude of the observed ELF/VLF waves is strongly dependent on the imposed ELF/VLF phase offset, the modulation waveform, and the orientation of the HF beams. Data from two ground stations are interpreted using simulations of modulated heating power envelopes as well as a comprehensive model of ionospheric ELF/VLF generation. It is found that two colocated vertical beams HF beams excite a single ionospheric ELF/VLF source, but independent ELF/VLF sources can be induced in the ionospheric region above the heater if the HF beams are offset from zenith to intersect at their 3 dB points. Furthermore, the use of two vertical HF beams with ELF phase offset is found to be a potential diagnostic method for the ionospheric D region.