Probing the ionosphere with rockets and radio waves: Studies of plasma waves and instabilities in the upper atmosphere

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.A. Bernhardt
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Waves ◽  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Radio Waves ◽  
Plasma Waves And Instabilities

scholarly journals The return of radio waves from the middle atmosphere—I

1937 ◽  
Vol 161 (905) ◽  
pp. 181-196 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Characteristic ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Radio Waves ◽  
Sharp Distinction ◽  
Fundamental Significance ◽  
High Ionization ◽  
Collisional Damping

One of us introduced the name “Ionosphere” to designate that region of the upper atmosphere of which the most prominent physical characteristic was the occurrence of sustained high ionization densities, and which was, in consequence, of fundamental significance in the propagation of radio waves. The name, after finding its way into many languages, has been formally adopted by the Union Radio Scientifique Internationale for international use, and is now commonly applied to the region of the atmosphere above the first 90 km. It is an object of this present paper to show that this sharp distinction, although very broadly justified, is less happy than might have been hoped. It has been customary to regard the return of radio waves of measurable intensity from regions sensibly below 90-100 km. as very improbable in any save exceptional conditions, the collisional damping at lower levels being believed to ensure severe attenuation of such waves as might otherwise be returned from any temporarily densely ionized regions at moderate levels, while at still lower levels the rate of recombination seemed likely to prevent the maintenance of substantial ionization densities.

scholarly journals Radio Waves in the Upper Atmosphere

Nature ◽  
1938 ◽  
Vol 141 (3566) ◽  
pp. 407-407
Keyword(s):  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Radio Waves

scholarly journals Dissociation, recombination and attachment processes in the upper atmosphere—I

1937 ◽  
Vol 163 (915) ◽  
pp. 542-553 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Radio Waves ◽  
Ionization Density ◽  
Pressure Discharge ◽  
Mechanical Methods ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Quantitative Manner ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Atmospheric Ionization

The study of the properties of the earth’s upper atmosphere has now progressed so far as to provide what should be a sufficient basis for the development of a detailed theory. Since the state of the upper atmosphere approximates closely to that of the gas in a low-pressure discharge tube (except for the absence of solid boundaries), it is clear that such a theory must deal with the individual collision processes which can occur in such a system. Until the last few years no satisfactory theory of these phenomena was available, but it is now possible to apply quantum mechanical methods with reasonable expectation of results accurate at least as regards order of magnitude. We therefore propose to make use of these methods to obtain a deeper understanding of the physics of the ionosphere. In this paper we confine ourselves particularly to the qualitative study of certain problems associated with the two upper ionized layers (the E and F regions), making use of information already available concerning the probabilities of the various collision reactions which are important. The detailed evaluation of these reaction rates is being carried out, and in later papers it is hoped to deal with the various problems in a more nearly quantitative manner. The two main strata of atmospheric ionization are the E region extending roughly from 120 to 160 km. and the F region from 180 to 300 km., at night. During the day each splits into two distinct strata forming the E 1 and E 2 and the F 1 and F 2 regions. The ionization density in each region, as determined from experiments with radio waves, exhibits characteristic annual and diurnal variations besides irregular variations of considerable magnitude. The first problem which arises is the reason for the existence of the stratification. This being understood it is then necessary to account for the observed variations of density, the daytime splitting of the layers, and so on.

Refraction of short radio waves in the upper atmosphere

1926 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 535-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
William G. Baker ◽  
Chester W. Rice
Keyword(s):  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Radio Waves

scholarly journals Nongyrotropic particle distributions in space plasmas

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 613-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Motschmann ◽  
K. H. Glassmeier ◽  
A. L. Brinca
Keyword(s):  
Inhomogeneous Plasma ◽  
Plasma Waves ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Unstable Wave ◽  
Gyration Radius ◽  
Linear Dispersion ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
Plasma Waves And Instabilities ◽  
Background Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Physics

Abstract. In nonstationary, strong inhomogeneous or open plasmas particle orbits are rather complicated. If the nonstationary time scale is smaller than the gyration period, if the inhomogeneity scale is smaller than the gyration radius, i.e. at magnetic plasma boundaries, or if the plasma has sources and sinks in phase space, then nongyrotropic distribution functions occur. The stability of such plasma configurations is studied in the framework of linear dispersion theory. In an open plasma nongyrotropy drives unstable waves parallel and perpendicular to the background magnetic field, whereas in the gyrotropic limit the plasma is stable. In nonstationary plasmas nongyrotropy drives perpendicular unstable waves only. Temporal modulation couples a seed mode with its side lobes and thus it renders unstable wave growth more difficult. As an example of an inhomogeneous plasma a magnetic halfspace is discussed. In a layer with thickness of the thermal proton gyroradius a nongyrotropic distribution is formed which may excite unstable parallel and perpendicular propagating waves.Key words. Interplanetary physics (plasma waves and turbulence) · Ionosphere (plasma waves and instabilities) · Magnetospheric physics (plasma waves and instabilities)

scholarly journals Nonstationary pearl pulsations as a signature of magnetospheric disturbances

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 517-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Z. Feygin ◽  
N. G. Kleimenova ◽  
O. A. Pokhotelov ◽  
M. Parrot ◽  
K. Prikner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Plasma Waves ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Magnetospheric Physics ◽  
Central Frequency ◽  
Plasma Waves And Instabilities ◽  
Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics ◽  
Diurnal Distribution ◽  
Magnetospheric Configuration

Abstract. We analyse long-lasting (several hours) Pc1 pearl pulsations with decreasing, increasing or constant central frequencies. We show that nonstationary pearl events (those with either decreasing or increasing central frequency) are observed simultaneously with increasing auroral magnetic activity at the nightside magnetosphere while the stationary events (constant central frequency) correspond to quiet magnetic conditions. Events with decreasing central frequency are observed mostly in the late morning and daytime whereas events with increasing central frequency appear either early in the morning or in the afternoon. We explain the diurnal distribution of the nonstationary pearl pulsations in terms of proton drifts depending on magnetic activity, and evaluate the magnetospheric electric field based on the variation of the central frequency of pearl pulsations.Key words: Magnetospheric physics (magnetospheric configuration and dynamics; plasma waves and instabilities)

A modern digital High Frequency Receiver to explore Uranus and Neptune radio emitters

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Lamy ◽  
Baptiste Cecconi ◽  
Mustapha Dekkali ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Wave ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Plasma Waves ◽  
Modern Concept ◽  
Radio Waves ◽  
Electrostatic Discharges ◽  
Planetary Magnetospheres ◽  
The Earth ◽  
General Radio ◽  
Atmospheric Radio

<div class="">Among the known planetary magnetospheres, those of Uranus and Neptune display very similar radio environments so that they have early been referred to as ‘radio twins’. They produce a variety of electromagnetic radio waves ranging from ~0 to a few tens of MHz similar to - although more complex than - those of Saturn or the Earth (Desch et al., 1991, Zarka et al., 1995). These include the well known Uranian/Neptunian Kilometric Radiations (UKR/NKR) below 1MHz or the Uranian/Neptunian Electrostatic Discharges (UED/NED) beyond, which remain only known from Voyager 2 radio observations. Here, we present a modern concept of digital High Frequency Receiver (HFR) within the frame of a general Radio and Plasma Wave (RPW) experiment retained in various mission concepts toward Uranus and Neptune (e.g. Hess et al., 2010 ; Arridge et al., 2011, 2013, 2014 Christophe et al., 2011; Masters et al., 2013; Hofstadter at al., 2019). The presented HFR concept, based on the heritage of Cassini/RPWS/HFR, Bepi-Clompobo/PWI/Sorbet, Solar Orbiter/RPW and JUICE/RPWI/JENRAGE is aimed at providing a light, robust, low-consumption versatile instrument capable of goniopolarimetric and waveform measurements from a few kHz to ~20MHz, devoted to the study of auroral and atmospheric radio and plasma waves or dust impacts.</div>

scholarly journals Cometary Plasma Waves and Instabilities

1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 1171-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce T. Tsurutani
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Wave ◽  
Nonlinear Waves ◽  
Plasma Waves ◽  
Particle Interactions ◽  
Wave Evolution ◽  
Cometary Plasma ◽  
Plasma Waves And Instabilities ◽  
Wave Particle Interactions

AbstractThis review will discuss various plasma waves and instabilities that have been observed near comets. Comments on nonlinear wave evolution and wave cascading, as well as the role of nonlinear waves in wave-particle interactions, will be made.

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