Phenomena in the High-Latitude Ionospheric F Region Induced by a HF Heater Wave at Frequencies Near the Fourth Electron Gyroharmonic

Abstract

We present the results of multi-instrument studies of the phenomena in the high-latitude ionospheric F region stimulated by high-power HF O-mode radio waves injected towards the magnetic zenith when the ratio of the heater frequency to the cutoff frequency of the F2 layer is near the fourth electron gyroharmonic. Based on the stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE), spectral observations in the kilohertz and hertz frequency bands of detunings relative to the heater wave frequency, the behaviors of different parameters of the ionospheric plasma and small-scale artificial field-aligned irregularities are compared and analyzed. The coexistence of the thermal (resonance) parametric instability (TPI) and parametric decay (striction) instability (PDI) was found in the vicinity of the fourth gyroresonance harmonic.