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Harker, K. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Harker, K. J..

33 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Requirements for space shuttle scatter radar experiments

The feasibility of carrying out scatter radar experiments on the space shuttle was analyzed. Design criteria considered were the required average transmitter power, frequency resolution, spatial resolution, and statistical accuracy. Experiments analyzed were measurement of the naturally enhanced plasma line and the ion component of the incoherent scatter spectrum, and the plasma line artificially enhanced by an intense HF radio wave. The ion component measurement does not appear feasible, while the other two appear reasonable for short ranges only.

Harker, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Generation of ULF waves by electric or magnetic dipoles

The generation of ULF waves by ground-based magnetic and electric dipoles is studied with a simplified model consisting of three adjoining homogeneous regions representing the groud, the vacuum (free space) region, and the ionosphere. The system is assumed to be immersed in a homogeneous magnetic field with an arbitrary tilt angle. By the use of Fourier techniques and the method of stationary phase, analytic expressions are obtained for the field strength of the compressional Alfven waves in the ionosphere. Expressions are also obtained for the strength of the torsional Alfven wave in the ionosphere and the ULF magnetic field at ground level. Numerical results are obtained for the compressional Alfven-wave field strength in the ionosphere with a nonvertical geomagnetic field and for the ULF magnetic field at ground level for a vertical geomagnetic field.

Harker, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Analysis of the backscatter spectrum in an ionospheric modification experiment

Predictions of the backscatter spectrum, including effects of ionospheric inhomogeneity, are compared with experimental observations of incoherent backscatter from an artificially heated region. Our calculations show that the strongest backscatter echo received is not from the reflection level, but from a region some distance below. Certain asymmetrical features are explained of the up-shifted and down-shifted plasma lines in the backscatter spectrum, and the several satellite peaks accompanying them.

Kim, H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Generation of Alfven waves in the magnetosphere by parametric interaction between whistlers

A theory is developed for the generation of Alfven waves by the mixing of whistler waves. Calculations are carried out for interaction in the magnetosphere where the whistlers fall in the VLF frequency range and the Alfven wave falls in the ULF(1-5 Hz) range. Typical amplitudes of 2-5 milligammas for the Alfven wave are calculated, and it is shown that these values might be increased by one order of magnitude through suitable variation of the experimental parameters. The study thereby develops a possible explanation for naturally occurring Pc 1 micropulsations and demonstrates the feasibility of artificial generation of such micropulsations by ground-launched whistlers.

Harker, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A theory for scattering by density fluctuations based on three-wave interaction

The theory of scattering by charged particle fluctuations of a plasma is developed for the case of zero magnetic field. The source current is derived on the basis of: (1) a three wave interaction between the incident and scattered electromagnetic waves and one electrostatic plasma wave (either Langmuir or ion acoustic), and (2) a synchronous interaction between the same two electromagnetic waves and the discrete components of the charged particle fluctuations. Previous work is generalized by no longer making the assumption that the frequency of the electromagnetic waves in large compared to the plasma frequency. The general result is then applied to incoherent scatter, and to scatter by strongly driven plasma waves. An expansion is carried out for each of those cases to determine the lower order corrections to the usual high frequency scattering formulas.

Harker, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Energy absorption in cold inhomogeneous plasmas - The Herlofson paradox.

Confirmation of Barston's (1964) conclusions regarding the underlying mechanism of the Herlofson paradox by examining in detail several analytically tractable cases of delta-function and sinusoidal excitation. The effects of collisions and nonzero electron temperature in determining the steady state fields and dissipation are considered. Energy absorption without dissipation in plasmas is shown to be analogous to that occurring after application of a signal to a network of lossless resonant circuits. This analogy is pursued and is extended to cover Landau damping in a warm homogeneous plasma in which the resonating elements are the electron streams making up the velocity distribution. Some of the practical consequences of resonant absorption are discussed, together with a number of paradoxical plasma phenomena which can also be elucidated by considering a superposition of normal modes rather than a single Fourier component.

Crawford, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A study and classification of non-linear high frequency ionospheric instabilities by coupled mode theory.

Two basic high-frequency ionospheric instabilities are discussed - i.e., the three-wave parametric interaction, and the oscillating two-stream instability. In the parametric instability, the ion-acoustic wave has a complex frequency, whereas in the oscillating two-stream instability the ion-acoustic frequency is purely imaginary. The parametric instability is shown to be the only one whose threshold depends on the ion collision frequency. A coupled-mode theory is proposed which permits study and classification of high-frequency instabilities on a unified basis.

Harker, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Observations of nonlinear scattering from a plasma column.

Nonlinear interaction effects are considered for signals incident on an unmagnetized cold plasma column, without making the quasi-static approximation. It is found that the nonlinearly generated quadrupole component is only modified slightly and that no multipolar component can give a forward- or back-scattered signal. However, strong nonlinear forward scattering was observed in previous experiments. This spurious result has been traced to the effect of the earth's magnetic field. When this is cancelled, predominantly quadrupolar radiation is observed, in agreement with theory.

Bruce, R. L.↗