Whistlers

Abstract

Theoretical models of ionospheric whistler phenomena are reviewed and compared with experimental data. Whistlers were characterized as lightning discharges through a dispersive medium in 1919, with the first observed appearance of whistler noises detected in telephone communications. Magneto-ionic theory is used to characterize whistlers, with the Appleton-Hartree equations applied to the wave fields arising from lightning interactions with ionospheric plasma. Large values of the refractive index or slow propagation speeds give rise to the whistler mode, i.e., propagation of the wave through plasmas of any density. Propagation through the ionosphere is examined with the Snell's law, and account is taken of absorption and the necessity of obtaining full-wave solutions. Finally, theories are under development to explain the occurrence of ducting, i.e., guiding of the whistler wave by field-aligned plasma density irregularities.