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Delta function excitation of waves in the earth's ionosphere
Author(s) -
Vidmar R. J.,
Crawford F. W.,
Harker K. J.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs018i006p01337
Subject(s) - ionosphere , wave packet , physics , computational physics , envelope (radar) , wave propagation , modulation (music) , geophysics , optics , atomic physics , computer science , acoustics , telecommunications , radar
Excitation of the earth's ionosphere by delta function current sheets is considered, and the temporal and spatial evolution of wave packets is analyzed for a two‐component collisional F 2 layer. Approximations of an inverse Fourier‐Laplace transform via saddle point methods provide plots of typical wave packets. These illustrate cold plasma wave theory and may be used as a diagnostic tool since it is possible to relate specific features, e.g., the frequency of a modulation envelope, to plasma parameters such as the electron cyclotron frequency. It is also possible to deduce the propagation path length and orientation of a remote radio beacon.