MPS and Ionospheric Propagation Codes
This presentation describes diffraction and refraction techniques employed at LLNL for multiple ionospheric propagation scenarios.
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
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Results for “IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Effect of Density Irregularities on Radio Frequency Wave Propagation in Ionospheric Plasmas
Density irregularities play a vital role in determining how radio frequency (RF) waves travel through plasmas. In the Earth’s ionosphere, these density irregularities also impact radio communication. In this study, we conduct a detailed numerical analysis of RF wave propagation in small-scale ionospheric density irregularities using the advanced Petra-M code. We focus specifically on high-frequency (HF) waves, ranging from 3 to 30 MHz, which are essential for military, amateur radio operators, and emergency communications. By introducing density structures, such as equatorial plasma bubbles derived from fluid simulations, we demonstrate that HF waves can scatter in multiple directions when they encounter these irregularities. Additionally, we observe significant mode conversion, where incoming electromagnetic waves transform into electrostatic modes within the density gradient layer. This shows that smaller density irregularities can greatly weaken signals or cause complete signal loss for receivers, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and innovative solutions in radio communication transmission.
Kim, Eun-Hwa [Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory ↗
Propagation of an ultrawideband electromagnetic signal in ionospheric plasma
The propagation of an ultrawideband electromagnetic signal in the ionosphere—a plasma medium with spatially nonuniform characteristics—is studied analytically in the high-frequency approximation. The effect of the plasma dielectric properties and angular divergence on the shape and frequency spectrum of the propagating signal is investigated. It is shown that the spectral energy density of the signal is preserved if collisions of ionospheric plasma electrons are neglected.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Ionospheric Transfer Function Tests: Line of Sight and Slab
Ionospheric transfer function (ITF) algorithms determine the effects of the ionosphere on an electromagnetic (EM) signal as it propagates through. In this report, analytic formulas are derived which can be used to compare results of ITF calculations from certain algorithms.
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
Nonlinear propagation of Rossby-Khantadze electromagnetic planetary waves in the ionospheric E-layer
Nonlinear vortex propagation of electromagnetic coupled Rossby and Khantadze planetary waves in the weakly ionized ionospheric E-layer is investigated with numerical simulations. Large scale, finite amplitude vortex structures are launched as initial conditions at low, mid, and high latitudes. For each k-vector the linear dispersion relation has two eigenmodes corresponding to the slow magnetized Rossby wave and the fast magnetic Khantadze wave. Both waves propagate westward with local speeds of the order of 10–20 m/s for the slow wave and of the order of 500–1000 km/s for the fast wave. We show that for finite amplitudes there are dipole solitary structures emitted from the initial conditions. These structures are neutrally stable, nonlinear states that avoid radiating waves by propagating faster than the corresponding linear wave speeds. The condition for these coherent structures to occur is that their amplitudes are such that the nonlinear convection around the core of the disturbance is faster than the linear wave speed for the corresponding dominant Fourier components of the initial disturbance. The presence of the solitary vortex states is indicative of an initial strong disturbance such as that from a solar storm or a tectonic plate movement. We show that for generic, large amplitude initial disturbances both slow and fast vortex structures propagate out of the initial structure.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Omission of electron temperature and collisions in DIORAMA ionospheric transfer functions
DIORAMA calculates ionospheric effects on propagating EM signals using a frequency dependent transfer function called the Ionospheric Transfer Function (ITF). The ITF is applied to each of the spatial components of the EM wave, at each frequency in its bandwidth, as it travels through the ionosphere.
42 ENGINEERING↗
Trans-ionospheric signal polarization
An electromagnetic (EM) wave originating at or near the earth’s surface can propagate upwards, traverse the ionosphere, and then be detected at a satellite. While the signal’s magnitude will affect its detectabilty, its polarization will play an important role as well. Furthermore the signal polarization can reveal properties about its source, and the ionospheric conditions through which it traveled. Thus, it is desirable to predict the polarization characteristics of trans-ionospheric EM signals. This situation is complicated by the birefringence imposed on an EM wave propagating in the magnetized plasma of the ionosphere. Each frequency component of the signal can excite two waves that propagate at different phase velocities due to their separate refractive characteristics.For this work, the amplitude and phase of each EM wave field spatial component is followed as it crosses the lower ionospheric boundary, traverses the ionosphere and then crosses the upper boundary. Results are for a single frequency, and can be easily extended to broadband waveforms using fourier transform techniques.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Assessment of Variability of the TEC in the Equatorial Anomaly Region with a Focus over Africa Using Rz and F10.7 as Input Drivers
This paper mainly intends to address the assessment of altitudinal variability of the vertical total electron content (VTEC) extracted from the Global Positioning System (GPS), the new versions of the International Reference Ionosphere Extended to the Plasmasphere (IRI-Plas 2017), and a quick-run ionospheric electron density (NeQuick 2) model in the equatorial anomaly region with a focus over Africa. This is manipulated employing the daily sunspot number (Rz) and 10.7 cm solar radio flux (F10.7) indices as the driver for the models during 2013–2016. The results show that the GPS-derived VTEC values are generally smaller than the modeled VTEC (IRI-Plas 2017 and NeQuick 2 VTEC) values, especially while utilizing the models with the Rz index. The modeled VTEC values are closer to the GPS VTEC values while using the models with the F10.7 index than Rz. The VTEC values obtained while using both models with the F10.7 index tend to increase while traversing from the high to the low solar activity years (especially in the March equinox and December solstice). The top-side ionospheric and plasmaspheric layers contribute the highest and lowest values to the total VTEC. Hence, the signal propagation through the ionosphere is largely affected when the signal crosses the top-side layer. Unlike other layers, due to the limited impact of the EUV on the ionization of neutral particles in the plasmasphere, the VTEC in the plasmaspheric layer (ECpl) shows smooth pattern with similar hourly values. Moreover, the IRI-Plas 2017 model does not effectively respond to the geomagnetic storm time variability of the VTEC with altitude.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Fifty-one years of Los Alamos Spacecraft
From 1963 to 2014, the Los Alamos National Laboratory was involved in at least 233 spacecraft. There are probably only one or two institutions in the world that have been involved in so many spacecraft. Los Alamos space exploration started with the Vela satellites for nuclear test detection, but soon expanded to ionospheric research (mostly barium releases), radioisotope thermoelectric generators, solar physics, solar wind, magnetospheres, astrophysics, national security, planetary physics, earth resources, radio propagation in the ionosphere, and cubesats. Here, we present a list of the spacecraft, their purpose, and their launch dates for use during RocketFest
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
Analytical study of nighttime scintillations using GPS at low latitude station Bhopal
Sporadically structured ionosphere (i.e. in-homogeneities in refractive index) can cause fluctuations (due to refraction effects) on the radio signal that is passing through it. These fluctuations are called ionospheric scintillations. Low latitude region is suitable for studying these scintillations. The influence of the ionosphere on the propagation of the radio wave becomes very marked with reference to communication or navigational radio system at very low frequency (VLF) to a high frequency (HF), which operate over the distances of 1000 km or more. Radio wave communication at different frequencies depends on structure of the ionosphere. With the advent of the artificial satellites, they are used as a prime mode of radio wave communication. Some natural perturbation termed as irregularities, are present in the form of electron density of the ionosphere that cause disruption in the radio and satellite communications. Therefore the study of the ionospheric irregularities is of practical importance, if one wishes to understand the upper atmosphere completely. In order to make these communications uninterrupted the knowledge of irregularities, which are present in the ionosphere are very important. These irregularities can be located and estimated with the help of Ionospheric TEC and Scintillation. Scintillation is generally confined to nighttime hours, particularly around equatorial and low latitudes.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Techniques for Accurate Parallax Measurements for 6.7 GHz Methanol Masers
The BeSSeL Survey is mapping the spiral structure of the Milky Way by measuring trigonometric parallaxes of hundreds of maser sources associated with high-mass star formation. While parallax techniques for water masers at high frequency (22 GHz) have been well documented, recent observations of methanol masers at lower frequency (6.7 GHz) have revealed astrometric issues associated with signal propagation through the ionosphere that could significantly limit parallax accuracy. These problems displayed as a “parallax gradient” on the sky when measured against different background quasars. We present an analysis method in which we generate position data relative to an “artificial quasar” at the target maser position at each epoch. Fitting parallax to these data can significantly mitigate the problems and improve parallax accuracy.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Mars Dust Storm Effects in the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere and Implications for Atmospheric Carbon Loss
Mars regional and global dust storms are able to impact the lower/upper atmospheres through dust aerosol radiative heating and cooling and atmospheric circulation. Here we present the first attempt to globally investigate how the dust impact transfers from the neutral upper atmosphere to the ionosphere and the induced magnetosphere above 100-km altitude. This is achieved by running a multifluid magnetohydrodynamic model under nondusty and dusty atmospheric conditions for the 2017 late-winter regional storm and the 1971–1972 global storm. In this paper, our results show that the dayside main ionospheric layer (below ~250-km altitude) undergoes an overall upwelling, where photochemical reactions dominate. The peak electron density remains unchanged, and the peak altitude shift is in accordance with the upper atmospheric expansion (~5 and ~15 km for the regional and global storms, respectively). Controlled by the day-to-night transport, the nightside ionosphere responds to the dust storms in a close connection with what happens on the dayside but not apparently with the ambient atmospheric change. At higher altitudes, dust-induced perturbations propagate upward from the ionosphere to the magnetosphere and extend from the dayside to the nightside, within a broad region bounded by the induced magnetospheric boundary. It is found that the global dust storm is able to dramatically enhance the CO⁺₂ loss by a factor of ~3, which amounts to an increase of ~20% or more for total carbon loss (in the forms of neutrals and ions). Strong dust storms are a potentially important factor in atmospheric evolution at Mars.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Ray Trace Modeling Code
This document gives a brief overview of the basic theory of electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation through an inhomogeneous, non-stochastic plasma and the development of a computer code to model that propagation in three dimensional space. This code has been developed to account for extreme ionospheric refractory conditions, that is, propagation of electromagnetic waves near the geomagnetic poles, and significant electron density gradients in all three directions.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Dust-Acoustic Solitons in Dusty Ionospheric Plasma Containing Adiabatically Captured Electrons
The possible propagation of localized wave structures such as dust-acoustic solitons in dusty ionospheric plasma containing photoelectrons, electrons and ions of the ionosphere, and charged dust particles is considered. Intervals of the possible soliton velocities and amplitudes are determined. Solitary wave solutions for various dimensions and concentrations of particles in dusty ionospheric plasma are found.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Scattering of electromagnetic waves by vortex density structures associated with interchange instability: Analytical and large scale plasma simulation results
The presence of plasma turbulence can strongly influence propagation properties of electromagnetic signals used for surveillance and communication. In particular, we are interested in the generation of low frequency plasma density irregularities in the form of coherent vortex structures. Interchange or flute type density irregularities in magnetized plasma are associated with Rayleigh-Taylor type instability. These types of density irregularities play an important role in refraction and scattering of high frequency electromagnetic signals propagating in the earth ionosphere, in high energy density physics, and in many other applications. We will discuss scattering of high frequency electromagnetic waves on low frequency density irregularities due to the presence of vortex density structures associated with interchange instability. We will also present particle-in-cell simulation results of electromagnetic scattering on vortex type density structures using the large scale plasma code LSP and compare them with analytical results.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Los Alamos Portable Pulser (LAPP) Marx Bank and Digitizer System Characterization
Over the duration of June 22 nd to July 15 th , I interned at Los Alamos National Laboratory within ISR-2 on the Los Alamos Portable Pulser (LAPP) Program. This program concerns a radar dish used for characterizing signal propagation through earth’s ionosphere. The bulk of my internship consisted of characterizing the delay of a Marx Bank Generator and writing hardware-interface C/C++ code for the pulse-recording Digitizer System.
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
First tsunami gravity wave detection in ionospheric radio occultation data
After the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Tohoku, the ionospheric signature of the displacements induced in the overlying atmosphere has been observed by ground stations in various regions of the Pacific Ocean. We analyze here the data of radio occultation satellites, detecting the tsunami-driven gravity wave for the first time using a fully space-based ionospheric observation system. One satellite of the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) recorded an occultation in the region above the tsunami 2.5 h after the earthquake. The ionosphere was sounded from top to bottom, thus providing the vertical structure of the gravity wave excited by the tsunami propagation, observed as oscillations of the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC). The observed vertical wavelength was about 50 km, with maximum amplitude exceeding 1 total electron content unit when the occultation reached 200 km height. We compared the observations with synthetic data obtained by summation of the tsunami-coupled gravity normal modes of the Earth/Ocean/atmosphere system, which models the associated motion of the ionosphere plasma. These results provide experimental constraints on the attenuation of the gravity wave with altitude due to atmosphere viscosity, improving the understanding of the propagation of tsunami-driven gravity waves in the upper atmosphere. They demonstrate that the amplitude of the tsunami can be estimated to within 20% by the recorded ionospheric data.
58 GEOSCIENCES↗
Interplanetary Radio Transmission Through Serial Ionospheric and Material Barriers
A usual first principle in planning radio astronomy observations from the earth is that monitoring must be carried out well above the ionospheric plasma cutoff frequency (~5 MHz). Before space probes existed, radio astronomy was almost entirely done above 6 MHz, and this value is considered a practical lower limit by most radio astronomers. Furthermore, daytime ionization (especially D-layer formation) places additional constraints on wave propagation, and waves of frequency below 10-20 MHz suffer significant attenuation. More careful calculations of wave propagation through the earth s ionosphere suggest that for certain conditions (primarily the presence of a magnetic field) there may be a transmission window well below this assumed limit. Indeed, for receiving extraterrestrial radiation below the ionospheric plasma cutoff frequency, a choice of VLF frequency appears optimal to minimize loss. The calculation, experimental validation, and conclusions are presented here. This work demonstrates the possibility of VLF transmission through the ionosphere and various subsequent material barriers. Implications include development of a new robust communications channel, communications with submerged or subterranean receivers / instruments on or offworld, and a new approach to SETI.
extraterrestrial communications↗