Accession Number:

AD0641897

Title:

A NEW METHOD TO MEASURE ELECTRON COLLISION FREQUENCIES IN THE IONOSPHERE BY MEANS OF THE FARADAY ROTATION PROCESS,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

BOSTON UNIV MASS

Personal Author(s):

• Papagiannis,Michael D.

Report Date:

1966-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

42.0

Abstract:

A linearly polarized wave propagating in a quasi-longitudinal direction, will become elliptically polarized and show Faraday rotation after passing through an absorbing magnetoionic medium. The theoretical analysis of the problem has yielded a simple expression which relates the collision frequency of the transversed medium to the Faraday rotation and the axial ratio of the received elliptically polarized waves. Thus by means of the derived equations, one can determine the collision frequency by measuring the axial ratio and the Faraday rotation of the transmitted signals. This new method can be used in experiments with sounding rockets to obtain altitude profiles of the collision frequency in the lower ionosphere. It can also be used in satellite to ground experiments to determine the total absorption along the ray path. The applicability of the proposed new method in rocket and satellite experiments is demonstrated in the present report by means of numerical calculations with typical ionospheric profiles and appropriate transmitting frequencies. Author

Descriptors:

• (*IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION
• TRANSPORT PROPERTIES)
• MEASUREMENT
• ELECTRONS
• MAGNETOOPTICS
• ELECTRON DENSITY
• POLARIZATION

Subject Categories:

• Radiofrequency Wave Propagation

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE