The cone structure and focusing of the electric field of VLF and LF waves at high altitudes of the ionosphere
This paper presents a short review of the frequency and angle dependencies of the electric field radiated by an electric dipole E = E(sub 0)cos(omega)t in a magnetoplasma and detailed results of numerical calculations of (E) in the VLF and LF frequency bands 0.02f(sub b) is less than or equal to F is less than or equal to 0.5f(sub b) in the ionosphere and magnetosphere in the altitude region Z = (800 - 6000) km (F is approximately (4 - 500) kHz and f(sub b) is approximately equal to (1.1 to 0.2) MHz is the electron gyro-frequency). The amplitudes of the electric field have large maxima in four regions: close to the direction of the Earth magnetic field line B(sub 0) (it is the so called Axis field E(sub 0); in the Storey E(sub St); Reversed Storey E(sub RevSt); and Resonance E(sub Res) Cones. The maximal values of E(sub 0), E(sub Res), and E(sub Rev ST) are the most pronounced close to the low hybrid frequency, F is approximately F(sub L). The flux of the electric field is concentrated in very narrow regions, with the apexes angles of the cones delta(beta) is approximately (0.1 - 1) degree. The enhancement and focusing of the electric field increases with altitude starting at Z is greater than 800 km. At Z is greater than or equal to 1000 up to 6000 km, the relative value of E, in comparison with its value at Z equals 800 km is about (10(exp 2) to 10(exp 10)) times larger. Thus, the flux of VLF and LF electromagnetic waves in the Earth magnetoplasma produces and is guided by very narrow pencil beams, similar, let us say, to laser beams.