The investigation of long-distance HF propagation on the basis of a chirp sounder

Abstract

Experimental data on round-the-world HF radio signals near the terminator are given. The critical frequency of the ionospheric waveguide is found to be F c ∼ 16–17 MHz. At frequencies F < F c the group delay has a negative dispersion τ dot g = ∂τ/∂F ⋍ −100 μs/MHz and τ dot g ⋍ 80 μs/MHz for frequencies f > f c. Ray-tracing calculations are carried out. It is found that the low frequency branch of round-the-world signals ( F < F c) is formed mainly by waveguide modes and the high frequency branch ( F > F c) by 0 ricochet and hop modes. Experiments on waveguide modes escaping from the ionospheric channel due to field-aligned scattering by artificial ionospheric turbulence are carried out. The conditions for trapping of radio waves in the ionospheric waveguide are investigated. It is shown that if the gradient of the critical frequency F 0F2 is less than minus 2 × 10 −2 MHz/100 km radio wave trapping takes place in the ionospheric waveguide at frequencies exceeding by 1–2 MHz the maximum observed frequency of the hop mode. The frequency time characteristics of the mode and the geophysical conditions for the effective control of radio waves escaping from the waveguide are defined.