Studying the features of transport processes in the upper ionosphere using HF-induced artificial ionospheric turbulence

Abstract

We analyze measurements of the velocity at which the artificial plasma turbulence, induced in the regions of resonance interaction between a powerful wave and a plasma, spreads along the geomagnetic field. The experimental data were obtained in 1996–2000 during experiments at the “Sura” heating facility on HF modification of the ionospheric F region. The stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) of the ionosphere was used for diagnosing the artificial plasma turbulence. The spread velocity was usually higher than the ion thermal velocity. In many cases, this velocity was close to and sometimes even much higher than the electron thermal velocity. We consider the dependence of the evolution features of the observed phenomena on the scheme of measurements (frequency and power of pumping and diagnostic waves, their timing, the distance between the levels of pumping- and diagnostic-wave reflection, etc.). A possible effect of the ionospheric D and E regions on the features of the observed phenomena is discussed. Based on the measurements performed, we formulate the requirements for future experiments.