Accession Number:

AD0752060

Title:

Induced Enhancement of the Plasma Line in the Backscatter Spectrum by Ionospheric Heating

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept. no. 5, Jan-Jun 1972

Corporate Author:

STANFORD UNIV CA STANFORD ELECTRONICS LABS

Personal Author(s):

• Harker, Kenneth J.

Report Date:

1972-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

16.0

Abstract:

Recent results from ionospheric modification experiments at the Acrecibo Ionospheric Observatory show an enhanced plasma line temperature of approximately 4000K due to excitation of the ion-acoustic parametric instability. Recent theories on the saturation spectrum of the plasma waves excited in this experiment predict that the bulk of the wave energy is associated with waves propagating in a very narrow angular cone centered on the geomagnetic field. The intensity of the plasma waves responsible for the scattering, propagating parallel to the probing radar beam i.e. at 40 to the geomagnetic field, is orders of magnitude weaker than the intensity of the parallel propagating plasma waves. It is shown here that it is still sufficient to account for the experimental results.

Descriptors:

• *IONOSPHERE
• BACKSCATTERING
• ELECTRON DENSITY
• HEATING
• IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION
• OSCILLATION
• PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
• POWER SPECTRA

Subject Categories:

• Atmospheric Physics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE