Generation of Realizations of Electron Density for Numerical Electromagnetic Propagation Simulations

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, we use a collection of Gaussian striations to generate random realizations of a disturbed ionosphere. The formalism is developed here to create a two‐dimensional realization of electron density by summing a large number of Gaussian striations, uniformly distributed in space and with a given probability density function of their radii. We analytically calculate the power spectral density (PSD) of the electron‐density fluctuations generated and show that it matches the form often observed in the natural ionosphere of a single‐component power‐law between inner and outer scale. A second probability density function of striation radii is studied that leads to a power‐law form for the autocorrelation function of in‐situ irregularities. An example of electromagnetic propagation using a multiple phase screen simulation with phase screens produced from Gaussian striations is compared to a similar example using statistical phase screens chosen to model the same situation.