The Influence of Suprathermal Electrons on the Excitation of Short-Wavelength Oscillations in the Ionosphere in the Field of a Powerful Radio Wave

This paper is the continuation of [1]. The expressions obtained in [1] are used to study the influence of suprathermal electrons on the transfer of energy of the upper-hybrid plasma waves excited by the powerful radio emission into the additional region of very short-wavelength oscillations with anomalous dispersion. Using the model examples, we show that this effect can considerably intensify the transfer of plasma-wave energy. According to our calculations, plasma waves in the additional region are excited in fairly broad frequency ranges of a powerful radio wave slightly below the 4th, 5th, and 6th electron gyroharmonics. We discuss the application of the obtained results to the attenuation of the stimulated electromagnetic emission and the auxiliary ionization of the ionosphere by accelerated electrons, which were detected for the pump-wave frequency ranges specified above.     

Determination of the Phase Shift of a Plasma Wave Reflected from the Edge of a Small-Scale Irregularity

In our papers [1,2], a nonlinear theory has been developed for excitation of plasma-wave eigenmodes inside field-aligned small-radius inhomogeneities in experiments on ionospheric heating by powerful radio waves. This theory takes into account the striction effects of plasma expulsion near the plasma resonance level where a trapped wave is reflected from the edge of the irregularity. The results of this theory depend strongly on the phase of the linear (i.e., weak-field) reflection coefficient. In this paper, we calculate this parameter for irregularities of different shapes.     

The effect of spatial dispersion on the interaction of short-wavelength oscillations with small-scale plasma irregularities

Using the statistical random-phase approximation, we derive the equations describing the interaction of short-wavelength oscillations with irregularities of a magnetized plasma taking into account thermal effects of the spatial dispersion. It is shown that an additional energy exchange between the wave and the plasma electrons, which is not related to resonance particles or collisions, occurs in a medium with random irregularities due to the effect of spatial dispersion. This energy exchange can be significant if the scales of the irregularities along the magnetic field are not very large, so that the dispersion effects in the interaction of a wave with irregularities are greater than the dissipative ones. We consider in detail the case, typical for the ionosphere, where the irregularities are field-aligned and the plasma oscillations are polarized almost perpendicular to the magnetic field. An equation describing the differential redistribution of plasma-oscillation energy in the wavenumber space due to multiple scattering by the irregularities was obtained taking into account the influence of spatial dispersion on the scattering process. We discuss application of the results obtained to the interpretation of some ionospheric experiments. Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Magnetism, lonosphere, and Radio Wave Propagation of the Russain Academy of Sciences, Troitsk, Moscow region, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 310–324, April, 2000.     

Trapping of plasma waves in small-scale cylindrical irregularities

We consider the efficiency of trapping of short plasma waves excited by a high-power radio wave inside the magnetic field-aligned small-scale cylindrical irregularities with low density. It is shown that in the case of cylindrical irregularities the reflection of a plasma wave from the points of its transformation into cold plasma oscillations is sufficiently large. Therefore, this process must be taken into account in the calculation of heating of irregularities in the field of a high-power radio wave. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 181–195, March 2007.     

大气重力波产生中纬电离层不均匀体的理论

研究中纬电高层Ｆ区大尺度不均匀休的基本性质及其与大气重力波的关系。分析了等离子体Ｐｅｒｋｉｎｓ不稳定性的非线性发展，发现这种不稳定性饱和在很小的幅度上。讨论了Ｐｅｒｋｉｎｓ不稳定性与重力波的耦合，表明重力波能触发中纬电离层Ｆ区等离子体不稳定性。由重力波触发的等离子体不稳定性可能演变成大幅度的波形结构，空间和时间调制的不均匀体理论揭示了大尺度中纬电离层不均匀体的产生机制。 关键词：     

On the Nonlinear Processes During Generation of Current Drive

The manifestations of the induced scattering effects in the generation process of current driven by lower-hybrid (LH) waves are studied taking into account the radiative-resonant interactions. The influence extent of the LH wave modulational instability on current drive is estimated. It is shown that the induced scattering of LH waves on plasma particles leads to a change of the LH waves spectrum and through this leads to an essential influence on fast electrons generation rate and the steady-state current drive. The modulational instability of LH waves can provide a “spectral gap” filling in the case of sufficiently strong LH wave pumping.     

A Lorentz-type mechanism for generation of small-scale irregularities in the heater-modified ionosphere

We consider Lorentz-type mechanism for growth of LF small-scale turbulence due to generation of local field-aligned electric fields (FAEF) in the ionospheric F-region modified by powerful radio waves. The FAEF are induced by Lorentz-type forces caused by the large-scale pressure structure of the heated volume. We found that small- scale structuring of the large-scale depleted region (the patch) is a function of altitude and that the cross-field scale of small-scale irregularities is definitely determined by the gradient scale length in plasma density. This mechanism allows us to explain the generation of irregularities with scale lengths of 6 m or longer and observations of aftereffects within 30 seconds or longer after the pump switch-off if they are defined by the lifetime of the induced local sources. The predictions of the Lorentz-type mechanism are shown to be consistent with the measurements of the significant growth of DSEE typical times, related to relaxation of heater-induced small-scale irregularities, under conditions of strong natural turbulence observed as F-spread in the ionograms.Published from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 318–328, March, 1996.     

A diagnostic tool for the study of stochastic properties of density striations excited by powerful electromagnetic waves in the ionospheric plasma

Powerful electromagnetic waves illuminating the ionospheric plasma generate small-scale density irregularities elongated in the direction of the geomagnetic field. Stochastic motion of these irregularities results in fluctuations of HF radio signals backscattered by the illuminated region. Observations of the full wave form of the radio signals make it possible to reconstruct the distribution function of the irregularities over their velocities. An experiment with such a reconstruction is proposed.     

Experimental Studies of the Effects Observed During the Nonlinear Interaction of Two High-Power Radio Waves in a Magnetoplasma

We present the results of experiments on modification of the ionospheric F region by two high-power (P_eff 20 MW) O-mode electromagnetic waves. The experiments were performed at the Sura heating facility of the Radiophysical Research Institute (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia) in May 23–27, 1993 at the pump frequencies near the 4th, 5th, or 6th harmonics of the electron gyrofrequency. Ionospheric perturbations were diagnosed by measuring the stationary spectral characteristics of the stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) of the ionospheric plasma. We determine the features of variation in the spectral characteristics of particular SEE components during the simultaneous heating of the ionospheric plasma by two radio waves in comparison with the case of a monochromatic pump wave. We observed the effect of enhanced generation of the broad up-shifted maximum (BUM) by the higher-frequency pump wave. This is accompanied by strong suppression of the BUM induced by the lower-frequency pump wave. It is shown that the effects observed during the two-frequency heating of the ionosphere have well pronounced gyroharmonic properties, i.e., depend on both the electron-gyroharmonic number and the frequency detuning of the pump waves from a harmonic of the electron gyrofrequency. We also pointed out that a change in the properties of artificial small-scale ionospheric irregularities (striations) excited by high-power radio waves is not the cause of a change in the properties of the down-shifted maximum and the BUM during the two-frequency modification of the ionospheric plasma. Ways for the further development of these studies are discussed.__________Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 110–133, February 2005.     

Influence of ionospheric irregularities on the form of radio signal scattering spectrum in over-the-horizon radar sounding of the rough sea surface

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the backscattering of HF radio waves from the rough sea surface, which have propagated through the ionosphere with random large-scale irregularities.

For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed in calculations that the rough sea surface is a perfectly conducting surface with the known Philips power spectrum of irregularities. Ionospheric irregularities of a random medium that are isotropic and single-scale ones, with a Gaussian spectrum, are considered within the limits of the hypothesis of frozen-in irregularities.

Within the first approximation of perturbation theory, using, as the incident wave and the Green function, their geometrical-optics approximations, we obtained the expression for the backscattering spectrum of the ionospheric chirp radio signal with a Gaussian envelope. The expression involves the parameters of the receive–transmit antenna, the signal, the propagation medium, and of the scattering surface. Numerical simulation was used to investigate the influence of all the above-mentioned parameters on the backscattering spectrum. It is shown that travel of ionospheric irregularities has the largest influence on the scattering spectrum, the signal parameters mainly determine the size of the scattering area in the range, and the form of the coherent integration window determines the form of the received signal and can distort it.     

Radiowave fluctuations in the polar ionosphere on the satellite-to-satellite paths under high solar activity

We analyze ionospheric fluctuations of decimeter radio waves on occultation polar paths between the navigational GPS satellites and the satellite CHAMP. Time dependences of the variance of the signal amplitude and amplitude fluctuation spectra under high solar activity in October–November 2003 are presented. The behavior of the signal amplitude fluctuations during occultation ionospheric sounding in the polar regions in different time of the day and in the equatorial regions in the daytime are considered. Radio-wave fluctuations are related to the solar-activity manifestations. It is shown that during strong solar-flare activity, intense small-scale plasma irregularities are excited in the polar ionosphere. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 185–193, March 2006.     

Vertical Velocities and Temperature of the Neutral Component in the Upper Atmosphere

Results of measurements of the velocity of the vertical plasma motion and the temperature of the neutral component in the upper atmosphere and comparison of variations in these parameters have been described. The measurements have been carried out by the resonance scattering of radio waves by artificial periodic irregularities in the ionospheric plasma. The irregularities arise when the ionosphere is modificated by a powerful high-frequency radio emission from a Sura midlatitude heating facility. Comparison has been conducted using experimental data on altitude- and time-dependent variations in the above parameters obtained in experiments of 2010 and 2014. It has been shown that, above 100 km, wavelike variations in temperature and velocity are commonly observed simultaneously. In the absence of wavelike variations, there is a tendency to an increase in temperature with an increase in the velocity of the vertical plasma motion regardless of direction. This tendency can be attributed to thermal flows directed upward from the turbulent region of the ionosphere.     

Influence of ionospheric irregularities on the form of radio signal scattering spectrum in over-the-horizon radar sounding of the rough sea surface

This paper is concerned with the backscattering of HF radio waves from the rough sea surface, which have propagated through the ionosphere with random large-scale irregularities.

For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed in calculations that the rough sea surface is a perfectly conducting surface with the known Philips power spectrum of irregularities. Ionospheric irregularities of a random medium that are isotropic and single-scale ones, with a Gaussian spectrum, are considered within the limits of the hypothesis of frozen-in irregularities.

Within the first approximation of perturbation theory, using, as the incident wave and the Green function, their geometrical-optics approximations, we obtained the expression for the backscattering spectrum of the ionospheric chirp radio signal with a Gaussian envelope. The expression involves the parameters of the receive-transmit antenna, the signal, the propagation medium, and of the scattering surface. Numerical simulation was used to investigate the influence of all the above-mentioned parameters on the backscattering spectrum. It is shown that travel of ionospheric irregularities has the largest influence on the scattering spectrum, the signal parameters mainly determine the size of the scattering area in the range, and the form of the coherent integration window determines the form of the received signal and can distort it.     

Nonlinear resonance of plasma waves in the thermal irregularities of ionospheric plasma

We study the effect of striction plasma density disturbances on the generation intensity of longitudional cold and plasma oscillations due to polarization of the magnetic field-aligned ionospheric plasma irregularities with δN_o<0 by a powerful radio wave. It is assumed that the plasma density level inside the irregularity intersects the upper-hybrid resonance level, in the vicinity of which the cold oscillations excited directly by a powerful radio wave are transformed to shorter-wave plasma oscillations. We consider the short plasma wave limit to reduce the problem to a system of two coupled equations for the cold wave induction and plasma wave electric field. The first equation is supplemented by a local source equal to the integral of the plasma wave electric field in the resonance region. The second equation involves the cold wave induction at the resonance point and describes the electric field of interacting waves in the resonance vicinity. We use simplifications connected with the small absorption of plasma waves propagating inside the irregularity and weak radiation of these waves outside the irregularity. These conditions correspond to the generation of eigenmodes of plasma oscillations trapped in the irregularity. We have obtained a resonance-type nonlinear equation for the electric field intensity (or energy flux) of eigenmode plasma waves with allowance for striction disturbances of the plasma density profile in the resonance region. It is shown that the striction expulsion of plasma is responsible for the occurrence of coefficients describing the change in the intensity of excitation and radiation of plasma waves at the irregularity boundary. Such an expulsion leads to variations of the efficient generation band of plasma eigenmodes with the total phase increment of the wave in the irregularity. It also leads to a change in the phase shift of the plasma wave reflected from the resonance. These coefficients and the nonlinear phase shift are expressed in terms of real wave functions of the nonlinear Airy equation which describes the electric field of the excited waves in the resonance vicinity when the dissipation is absent. Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation, Russian Academy of Sciences, Troitsk, Moscow region, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 270–297, March, 1998.     

On the theory of anomalous absorption of an ordinary wave

We obtain and analyze numerically exact formulas for anomalous absorption of a probing ordinary wave due to its transformation into plasma waves under vertical sounding of an ionospheric plasma layer with given spectrum of irregularities. The nature of possible approximations and their validity limits are analyzed. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 42, No. 8, pp. 826–836, August 1999.     

Attosecond plasma wave dynamics in laser-driven cluster nanoplasmas

We introduce a microscopic particle-in-cell approach that allows bridging the microscopic and macroscopic realms of laser-driven plasma physics. As a first application, resonantly driven cluster nanoplasmas are investigated. Our analysis reveals an attosecond plasma-wave dynamics in clusters with radii R is approximately equal to 30 nm. The plasma waves are excited by electrons recolliding with the cluster surface and travel toward the center, where they collide and break. In this process, energetic electron hot spots are generated along with highly localized attosecond electric field fluctuations, whose intensity exceeds the driving laser by more than 2 orders of magnitude. The ionization enhancement resulting from both effects generates a strongly nonuniform ion charge distribution. The observed nonlinear plasma-wave phenomena have a profound effect on the ionization dynamics of nanoparticles and offer a route to extreme nanoplasmonic field enhancements.     

Atmospheric Turbulence and Internal Gravity Waves Examined by the Method of Artificial Periodic Irregularities

A method for studying the Earth’s ionosphere at altitudes of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere based on creating artificial periodic irregularities in the ionospheric plasma by means of powerful radio waves is breafly described. Methods for determining the temperature and density of the neutral component and the velocity of vertical and turbulent motions by measuring the characteristics of the signal backscattered by the irregularities are described. The results of experiments performed on a SURA heating facility aimed at a comprehensive investigation of the natural processes occurring in the Earth’s lower ionosphere due to the propagation of atmospheric waves and turbulent phenomena are examined. Based on measurements of the amplitude and phase of the signal scattered by periodic irregularities, the most important characteristics of the neutral and plasma components of the Earth’s atmosphere at altitudes of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere are determined. Further research on the subject is discussed.     

Radiative transfer in a layer of magnetized plasma with random irregularities

The problem of radio wave reflection from an optically thick plane uniform layer of magnetized plasma is considered in the present work. The plasma electron density irregularities are described by a spatial spectrum of arbitrary form. The small-angle scattering approximation in invariant ray coordinates is proposed as a technique for the analytical investigation of the radiation transfer equation. The approximate solution describing the spatial and angular distribution of radiation reflected from a plasma layer is obtained. The solution obtained is investigated numerically for the case of ionospheric radio wave propagation. Two effects occur as a consequence of multiple scattering: a change in the reflected signal intensity and an anomalous refraction.     

Artificial periodic irregularities,hydrodynamic instabilities,and dynamic processes in the mesosphere—lower thermosphere

We present the results of measuring characteristics of the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere by the method of resonant scattering of radio waves by artificial periodic irregularities of the ionospheric plasma in the altitude range 90–120 km. It is shown that the altitude–time variations of the measured characteristics are in many respects stipulated by the propagation of atmospheric waves. Hydrodynamic instabilities in the mesosphere—lower thermosphere are analyzed. Criteria of development of different-type instabilities are presented. Contribution of different processes to the dynamics of the medium is estimated on the basis of the measurement results.     

Features of propagation of HF signals on mid-latitude paths under conditions of geomagnetic disturbances

We present the results of experimental studies of the features of HF-signal propagation on oblique-sounding paths in the Eurasian longitude sector between England and Magadan during geomagnetic disturbances. The joint analysis of the satellite data and the data of vertical and oblique sounding of the ionosphere shows that the appearance of additional signals during magnetic disturbances can be stipulated by refraction of radio waves in the region of the auroral oval and the main ionospheric trough as well as by scattering from small-scale magnetic-field-aligned irregularities near the equatorial boundary of the auroral oval. Based on calculations and comparison with experimental data of oblique sounding of the mid-latitude ionosphere, we identify the lateral spreading signals registered on the Magadan — Irkutsk and Inskip (England) — Rostov-on-Don paths as signals scattered by small-scale field-aligned irregularities whose location coincides with the southern boundary of the auroral oval. We show that the Russian and global chirp-ionosonde networks are promising for studying the dynamics of the main ionospheric trough and the auroral oval during geomagnetic disturbances as a manifestation of space weather in the near-Earth environment.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 47, No. 12, pp. 1041–1056, December, 2004.