Evolution of wave disturbances in the upper ionosphere. Part II

A theoretical analysis of the vertical propagation of large-scale wave disturbances in the F region and outer ionosphere is presented. The analysis has included all the major factors influencing the dynamics of the ionospheric plasma under mid-latitude conditions. It is shown that the disturbances propagating downward in a strongly inhomogeneous medium rise in intensity up to the heights of the F₂-layer maximum and are damped then in the lower layers of the ionosphere. This mechanism can be considered a source responsible for the inhomogeneous structure of the upper ionosphere. State University, Irkutsk, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 41, No. 9, pp. 1086–1092, September, 1998.     

Global magnetospheric perturbations stimulated by the plasma wave discharge in the lower ionosphere

In this paper we discuss a new method of controlled stimulation of global perturbations and the diagnostics of plasma physical processes in the ionosphere and the magnetosphere of the Earth. The method was realized with a series of rocket experiments by means of excitation of the radio frequency plasma wave discharge in the near field of the dipole antenna [1–4]. We focus considerable attention on the results obtained in these experiments testifying to the wide choice and diversity of potentialities of this new method.Radiophysical Research Institute. Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Published in Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 37, No. 6, pp. 799–806, June, 1994.     

Disturbances of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere caused by acoustic-gravity wave sources in the lower atmosphere

The results of observations of acoustic-gravity waves in the troposphere and the ionosphere at middle latitudes during periods of passage of the solar terminator are presented. Tropospheric observations were performed using a lidar. The frequency characteristics of variations of the tropospheric parameters are determined based on observations of the intensity of the scattered lidar signal. The characteristics of variations of the total electron content (TEC) in the atmosphere are determined from data collected by GPS navigation satellites. An analysis of the observational data showed that the spectrum of variations of the atmospheric and ionospheric parameters is indicative of acoustic-gravity waves (AGW) propagating from the lower atmosphere. Modeling studies of the vertical propagation of AGW from the Earth’s surface showed that such waves quickly (within ~15 min) reach altitudes of the upper atmosphere (~300 km). The refraction and dissipation of waves in the upper atmosphere produces perturbations of the background state of the atmosphere and gives rise to the waveguide propagation of infrasonic wave components. The observed manifestations of TEC disturbances caused by AGW propagating from the lower atmosphere can be explained by the diurnal variation of the altitude of the ionosphere and the waveguide propagation of infrasonic waves.     

Turbulence spectrum of the upper ionosphere

The problem of defining the spectral form of ionospheric irregularities with dimensions from hundreds to thousands of meters is considered. A generalized model is proposed for the ionospheric turbulence spectrum, taking into account both the anisotropic properties of the large-scale fraction of irregularities and the dependence of the anisotropy (elongation) of small-scale irregularities of the upper ionosphere along the Earth magnetic field direction on the transverse scale of those irregularities. Relations have been derived to determine the basic parameters of the irregularity spectrum of the uppers ionosphere (anisotropy indices for large-scale and small-scale fractions) and the depth of a thin ionospheric layer through measurement of the spectral characteristics of amplitude and phase fluctuations of orbital satellite signals. Using this model of the plasma irregularity spectrum, we can explain consistently many well-known experimental data on spectral characteristics of the phase and amplitude fluctuations of orbital satellite signals both in the high-latitude and midlatitude ionosphere. Radiophysical Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 446–456, April, 1997.     

Traveling perturbations in the F-region of the ionosphere,and the sporadic E-layer

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics -     

Evolution of nonlinear cosmological perturbations

We define fully nonperturbative generalizations of the uniform density and comoving curvature perturbations, which are known, in the linear theory, to be conserved on sufficiently large scales for adiabatic perturbations. Our nonlinear generalizations are defined geometrically, independently of any coordinate system. We give the equations governing their evolution on all scales. Also, in order to make contact with previous works on first- and second-order perturbations, we introduce a coordinate system and show that previous results can be recovered, on large scales, in a remarkably simple way, after restricting our definitions to first and second orders in a perturbative expansion.     

On the spectrum of large-scale inhomogeneities of the upper ionosphere

The possibility of measuring the large-scale turbulence structure of the upper ionosphere by vertical and oblique short-wave (SW) radio-sounding techniques is considered. General expressions have been derived for the phase fluctuation spectrum of a short-wave signal reflected at the ionospheric layer with an arbitrary regular permittivity profile and given spectrum of inhomogeneities. We have analyzed a number of particular cases which are most typical of phase measurements in the vertical and oblique SW radio-sounding of the randomly inhomogeneous ionosphere. It is shown that when these methods are used the phase fluctuation spectra of reflected signals may critically depend on the form of the ionospheric electron density profiles. The correct interpretation of the measurement data requires use of stations of synchronous vertical and oblique sounding to obtain proper ionograms and calculate the current spectra of a regular permittivity distribution of the ionosphere. Specific difficulties in interpreting the phase measurements of ionospheric inhomogeneity spectra by vertical and oblique radio-sounding methods are mentioned.Radiophysical Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 38, No. 7, pp. 653–659, July, 1995.     

Wave ionosphere perturbations with small periods under magnetic storm conditions

The characteristics of total electron content (TEC) variations obtained using the data of middle-latitude stations for receiving GPS satellite signals were studied. An analysis showed that perturbations of diurnal TEC variations during a geomagnetic storm were determined by strengthening of harmonics with periods of 4–5 and 6–8 h. Perturbations in diurnal TEC variations were retained for several days after a geomagnetic storm. An analysis of the frequency and amplitude characteristics of perturbed variations showed that differences between variations at different latitudes could be explained by the propagation of Poincaré planetary waves in an atmospheric wave channel. The atmospheric channel was formed because of increased heating of pole regions during geomagnetic storms. A comparative analysis of observations made at different stations was used to estimate the width of the atmospheric channel and Poincaré wave frequencies and wave vector components.     

Progressing wave perturbations of cosmological spacetimes

We determine the large class of Robertson-Walker spacetimes whose first-order, linear, isentropic perturbations can be expressed in closed form, and the closed form perturbations are written down. It is shown that the class includes several well-known spacetimes including, for example, spatially flat dust and the radiation filled universe.