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Propagation of beam-driven VLF waves from the ionosphere toward the groundAs part of the Cooperative High Altitude Rocket Gun Experiment (CHARGE-2B) rocket mission, an electron beam was injected into the ionosphere with a modulated beam current in an effort to generate very low frequency (VLF) waves. The propagation of the beam-driven VLF waves through the ionosphere is examined here to determine whether it is possible to detect these wave emissions with ground receivers. The paths of the VLF waves from where they were generated near the rocket were followed to the bottom of the ionosphere and the decrease in wave amplitude due to wave-particle resonance and collisional damping was calculated. It was found that due to collisional damping, which for these VLF waves becomes large at altitudes below about 150 km, wave amplitudes were decreased below the background atmospheric noise level. A number of different beam injection events have been examined and in all of these cases studied the waves were sufficiently damped such that detection on the ground would not be possible. This is in agreement with observations on the ground in which no wave emissions were observed during the CHARGE-2B mission. Control parameters that would be more favorable for beam-generated VLF propagation to the ground are discussed for future experiments of this type.
Document ID
19950047172
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Schriver, David
(University of California, Los Angeles, CA United States)
Sotnikov, Vladimir I.
(University of California, Los Angeles, CA United States)
Ashour-Abdalla, Maha
(University of California, Los Angeles, CA United States)
Ernstmeyer, James
(Rome Laboratory, Hanscom AFB, MA United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 100
Issue: A3
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
95A78771
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-1100
CONTRACT_GRANT: F19628-91-K-0012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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