Formation of artificial ionospheric mirror using electromagnetic radiation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The ionosphere, a crucial component of Earth's atmosphere, plays a pivotal role in facilitating radio communication. However, its inherent characteristics, such as the reflection and refraction of radio waves, are subject to instability, exhibiting sudden changes influenced by temporal and geographical factors. These fluctuations pose challenges for radar and communication systems reliant on the natural ionosphere, diminishing their reliability. Consequently, numerous studies have focused on inducing controllable alterations in ionospheric properties, including electron density, plasma frequency, and electron temperature. One prevalent method involves heating specific ionospheric regions using electromagnetic waves, offering a means to manipulate its characteristics deliberately. By implementing such controlled modifications, the inherent instability of the natural ionosphere can be mitigated. This paper presents the creation of an artificial ionized region, achieving an electron density of 108e/cm3, through a heating array with an Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 153 dBW, situated at an altitude of 65 km. This artificial ionized zone enables controlled reflection of radio waves within the frequency range of 3-90 MHz, catering to radar and communication systems' requirements. The primary focus of this article is the analysis and investigation of the ionospheric heating process utilizing high-power electromagnetic waves emitted by heating antennas. Specifically, employing an analytical approach, the article delineates the calculation of requisite characteristics for the heating antennas to generate artificial ionized areas at varying altitudes.

Keywords

Smiley face

 

References

[1]A. R. Thompson, J. M. Moran, and G. W. Swenson, “Propagation Effects: Ionized Media,” Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy, pp. 725–766, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44431-4_14
[2] A. V. Gurevich, "Nonlinear effects in the ionosphere," Physics-Uspekhi, vol. 50, no. 11, pp. 1091–1121, Nov. 2007. https://doi.org/10.1070/PU2007v050n11ABEH006212
[3] A. V. Gurevich, “Nonlinear Phenomena in the Ionosphere,” Springer Science & Business Media. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87649-3
[4] K. Davies, “Ionospheric Radio. Institution of Engineering and Technology,” 1990. https://doi.org/10.1049/PBEW031E
[5] S. Priyadarshi, “A Review of Ionospheric Scintillation Models,” Surveys in Geophysics, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 295–324, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-015-9319-1
[6] G. Zhe, “Effective Mechanism and the Source Region of the Stimulated ELF/VLF Waves by High Power HF Radio Waves,” Master's Thesis, Lancaster Univ., 2021. https://doi.org/10.17635/lancaster/thesis/1160
[7] J. Chen et al., “ELF/VLF Wave Radiation Experiment by Modulated Ionospheric Heating Based on Multi-Source Observations at EISCAT,” Atmosphere, vol. 13, no. 2, p. 228, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13020228
[8] K. Ghanbari, M. Khakian Ghomi, M. Mohammadi, M. Marbouti, and L. M. Tan, “Modeling the variations of reflection coefficient of Earth’s lower ionosphere using very low frequency radio wave data by artificial neural network,” Advances in Space Research, vol. 58, no. 3, pp. 326–338, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2016.04.027
[9] V. G. Mizonova and P. A. Bespalov, “The Influence of Small Variations of Plasma Density on Conditions of Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves of the Whistle Range through the Morning Ionosphere,” Cosmic Research, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 91–101, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0010952522700113
[10]Bayat, M.; Madani, M.H.; Razavi, S.M.J. “A Combined Improved Algorithm to Estimating The delay of Sky waves In Loran c Receiver”; Journal Of Electronical & Cyber Defence. 2015, 4, 55-63.(in Persian) https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.23224347.1393.2.4.20.4
[11] T. J. House, J. B. Near, S. Jr., C. William B., H. Ronald J., and David M., “Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025,” Defense Technical Information Center, 1996. https://doi.org/10.21236/ada333462
[12] I. A. Ryakhovskii, B. G. Gavrilov, Yu. V. Poklad, S. Z. Bekker, and V. M. Ermak, “The State and Dynamics of the Ionosphere from Synchronous Records of ULF/VLF and HF/VHF Radio Signals at Geophysical Observatory ‘Mikhnevo,’”Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, vol. 57, no. 5, pp. 718–730, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351321050177
[13] Khalilpoor, J.; Ranjbar, J.; Kazeminia, M. “Wireless Target Localization Using Median Weighted Least Square Error Metric in the Presence of Non-Line of Sight Signals”; Adv. Defence Sci. Technol. 2019, 2, 125-133.(in Persian). https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.23224347.1399.8.2.12.4
[14] Duncan, Lewis M., and Robert L. Showen, “Review of Soviet Ionospheric Modification Research,” In AGARD,1990. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990imip.agar.....D Df
[15] Banks, Peter M, “Overview of Ionospheric Modification from Space Platforms,” No. AD-P-006512/8/XAB, Stanford Univ., CA (United States), Space, Telecommunications and Radioscience Lab., 1990. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990imip.agarS....B
[16] Maehlum, B. N., and J. Troim, “Vehicle Charging in Low Density Plasmas,” In AGARD ,1990. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990imip.agarS....M
[17] Kossey, Paul A., et al, “Artificial Ionospheric Mirrors (AIM). A: Concept and issues,” In AGARD ,1990. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990imip.agarS....K
[18] Kolosov, Andreĭ Aleksandrovich, “Over-the-horizon radar,” Artech House, 1987.
[19] Short, R., et al, “System concept and analysis of an Artificial Ionospheric Mirror (AIM) radar,” Rept. for 31 Aug 89-31 Aug 90, No. AD-A-234289/7/XAB; APTI-5005, ARCO Power Technologies, Inc., Washington, DC (United States), 1990.
[20] R. E. LeLevier, “Determination of the D-layer dissociative recombination coefficient from a high-altitude nuclear explosion,” Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 481–485, 1964. https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ069i003p00481
[21] Budden, Kenneth George, “Radio waves in the ionosphere,” Radio Waves in the Ionosphere ,2009. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009rwi..book.....B
[22] Short, R., et al, “Physics studies in artificial ionosphere mirror related phenomena,” Tech RepL GL-TR-90--0038, Geophysics Laboratory, hanscom Air Force Base, Ma ,1990. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990arco.reptQ....S
[23] Asgari, M.; MohseniArmaki, S.H.; Fallah, M. “Radiation Pattern Analysis of Frequency Diverse Array Based on Square Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave”; Radar. 2015, 1, 25-34.(in Persian)
[24] A. W. Ali, “Nanosecond air breakdown parameters for electron and microwave beam propagation,” Laser and Particle Beams, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 105–117, 1988.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263034600003840
[25] Dehghan, M.; Razavi, R.; Ramezani, M. “Radar Cross Section Reduction of a Flat Square Plate Using Plasma Coating Caused By Alpha Particles”; Adv. Defence Sci. Technol. 2018, 2, 123-129.(in Persian).https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.26762935.1398.10.2.1.5
[26] ADVISORY GROUP FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE (FRANCE), “Conference Proceedings on Ionospheric Modification and Its Potential to Enhance or Degrade the Performance of Military Systems Held in Bergen, Norway on 28-31 May 1990 (La Modification de l'Ionosphere et son Potentiel d'Amelioration ou de Degradation des Performances des Systemes Militaires),” ,1990.
Radar
Volume 10, Issue 2 - Serial Number 28
Number 28, Autumn and Winter Quarterly
January 2023
Pages 49-58

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 28 August 2022
  • Revise Date: 09 December 2022
  • Accept Date: 25 December 2022
  • Publish Date: 21 January 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics