On the problem of polarization characteristics of radio waves in a randomly inhomogeneous magnetoactive plasma

Abstract

Expressions for the Stokes parameters when radio waves propagate in a turbulent magnetoactive plasma have been obtained using a refractive scattering method. The problem of the spatial coherence of polarized radiation is considered. Expressions for the correlation functions and fluctuation dispersions of the Stokes parameters are found in the case of saturated wave field fluctuation. It is shown that the fluctuation of the circular polarized component will be observed in the received radiation even if the circular polarization is absent in the radiation that is incident on the magnetoactive plasma slab. A method is proposed to define the preference orientation of the magnetic field in the inhomogeneous layer of space plasma, which is biased on the simultaneous measurement of the space correlation functions of the I, V Stokes parameter fluctuation and Faraday rotation of the radiation polarization plane from the source with known polarization characteristics.