Demonstration of Transverse Electric (TE) Mode Radio Propagation in the Earth-Ionosphere Waveguide

An investigation was made of the use of Transverse Electric TE Modes of propagation rather than the conventional Transverse Magnetic TM Modes at Very Low Frequencies. Theoretical comparisons show that TE waves should propagate better then TM waves in the earth-ionosphere waveguide under both normal and disturbed ionospheric conditions. Electromagnetic boundary conditions at the surface of the earth prevent efficient excitation and reception of radio waves generated in the TE Mode, but at higher altitudes, air-to-air communications is a practical reality.