A diagnostic system for the study of extremely long wavelength emission produced by ionospheric modification

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The high-power auroral stimulation (HIPAS) heating facility has been used to modulate D region ionospheric currents at high latitudes, producing extremely low frequency (ELF) radio wave emissions. The behavior of these ionospheric currents can be deduced from a comprehensive study of the ELF signals received at a local field site. This paper examines the mapping of the polar electrojet current from the E region down through the D region, where it can then be modulated by the heater beam. Results have been obtained using a simple Cowling model of the electrojet. These results indicate that for an electrojet flowing at an altitude of 110 km with a scale size in excess of 100 km, the mapping of the horizontal components of the current can be completely characterized in terms of the Pedersen and Hall conductivities. This is attributed to the fact that the mapping becomes independent of scale sizes which exceed 100 km. Several ionospheric heating experiments are proposed, including beam steering for localized ELF generation in the mapped region below electrojets.

Mapping of the polar electrojet current down to ionospheric D region altitudes

Werner¹,

Ferraro²

1990

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Determination of D region electron densities from the ELF frequency stepping experiment

Li¹,

Ferraro²

1990

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This paper describes the use of the generation of extremely low frequency (ELF) from heating of the D region of the ionosphere at high latitudes to estimate the degree of electron density ionization of the D region. In particular, the heating facility near Fairbanks, Alaska, known as the high-power auroral simulation (HIPAS) facility was used in this work. The theory of electron density synthesis is described, results of actual data presented, and electron densities determined. A new future ionospheric measurement technique is discussed.

Detection and characterization of geomagnetic pulsations using HF ionospheric heating

Lee¹,

Ferraro²,

Olson³

1990

This paper describes the geomagnetic pulsations observed at the high-latitude ionosphere during the experiment dealing with the ionospheric generation of ELF/VLF electromagnetic waves. The experiments were conducted in June and October of 1987, and there was clear evidence of geomagnetic pulsations intermixed with the ELF/VLF signals generated. This was manifested in both the magnitude and phase data. This paper discusses the detectability of pulsations based on the ELF/VLF generation experimental technique and a method of characterizing the pulsation being observed. A simple simulation model is introduced to facilitate the interpretation of the data, and the procedure for characterizing the pulsation is described.