Parametric amplification of propagating electron plasma waves in the ionosphere

Abstract

We compute the linear parametric convective amplification of electron plasma waves by an O mode pump propagating vertically into a vertically stratified ionosphere. The upshifted plasma line compares favorably with Arecibo observations, center frequency, spectral width, and possibly amplitude when the radar is aimed in a northerly direction. The dependence of the computed enhanced plasma line shape upon density scale length, electron-to-ion temperature ratio, pump power, density gradient scale length, and backscatter radar incidence angle is investigated.