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First demonstration of HF‐driven ionospheric currents
Author(s) -
Papadopoulos K.,
Chang C.L.,
Labenski J.,
Wallace T.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2011gl049263
Subject(s) - ionosphere , geophysics , ionospheric heater , physics , current (fluid) , high frequency , helicon , magnetosphere , radio wave , whistler , computational physics , magneto , ionospheric absorption , plasma , voltage , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
The first experimental demonstration of HF driven currents in the ionosphere at low ELF/ULF frequencies without relying in the presence of electrojets is presented. The effect was predicted by theoretical/computational means in a recent letter and given the name Ionospheric Current Drive (ICD). The effect relies on modulated F‐region HF heating to generate Magneto‐Sonic (MS) waves that drive Hall currents when they reach the E‐region. The Hall currents inject ELF waves into the Earth‐Ionosphere waveguide and helicon and Shear Alfven (SA) waves in the magnetosphere. The proof‐of‐concept experiments were conducted using the HAARP heater in Alaska under the BRIOCHE program. Waves between 0.1–70 Hz were measured at both near and far sites. The letter discusses the differences between ICD generated waves and those relying on modulation of electrojets.