Ionospheric Heaters Research Articles

Physics of efficient gridless tetrodes with intense electron beams

We consider the development of a highly efficient, gridless tetrode as a megawatt-level RF source in the 3 to 10 MHz range for application in mobile ionospheric heaters. Such a heater has potential advantages over the stationary facilities, such as High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, found at high latitudes. The considered device operates in class D mode with an annular electron beam allowing realization of high efficiency. The present study, based on numerical simulations using the Particle in Cell code Michelle [Petillo et al., IEEE Trans. Electron Devices Sci. 52, 742 (2005)], examines the optimization of device geometry. In particular, the dependence of efficiency on spacing between electrodes is studied. In addition, the role of secondary electrons emitted at the collector is examined. Both static and time dependent operations are simulated. In the time dependent case, it is found that during the portion of the RF cycle when the beam current is on, secondaries emitted from the collector are driven back into the collector by the incoming primary beam. When the beam is switched off, secondaries can stream back into the tetrode and have a small negative impact on efficiency. We present a design in which the secondary electrons are eventually absorbed at the collector rather than at the cathode or anode.

Experimental studies on radio frequency sources for ionospheric heaters

The ionosphere plays a prominent role in the performance of critical civilian and military communication systems. The properties of the ionosphere can be affected by Ionospheric Modification (IM). The key instrument in IM research is a powerful, ground-based, high frequency source of electromagnetic waves known as a heater. Existing heaters operate with large, fixed location antenna arrays. With a mobile heater, investigators would be able to conduct IM research at different latitudes without building a costly permanent installation. For developing a mobile heater with a much smaller antenna array, a new highly efficient megawatt-class Radio Frequency (RF) source is required to reduce the overall power demands on a fully deployable system. The concept of such a source has been described previously [Beaudoin et al., J. Electromagn. Waves Appl. 31(17), 1786–1801 (2017)]. Here, experimental results using an electron beam produced by a gridded thermionic electron gun to drive an external lumped element circuit for a high efficiency RF generation are reported. The gun produces an electron beam bunched at the driving frequency with a narrow phase angle spread that is then collected by an external circuit for resonant impedance matching to the load. The results showed that effects, such as the internal resistance of the inductor and deflection of the beam electrons by the induced RF voltages on the beam collector, are important considerations to be included in the design of a practical device using this configuration for high efficiency RF generation.

High efficiency inductive output tubes with intense annular electron beams

For mobile ionospheric heaters, it is necessary to develop highly efficient RF sources capable of delivering radiation in the frequency range from 3 to 10 MHz with an average power at a megawatt level. A promising source, which is capable of offering these parameters, is a grid-less version of the inductive output tube (IOT), also known as a klystrode. In this paper, studies analyzing the efficiency of grid-less IOTs are described. The basic trade-offs needed to reach high efficiency are investigated. In particular, the trade-off between the peak current and the duration of the current micro-pulse is analyzed. A particle in the cell code is used to self-consistently calculate the distribution in axial and transverse momentum and in total electron energy from the cathode to the collector. The efficiency of IOTs with collectors of various configurations is examined. It is shown that the efficiency of IOTs can be in the 90% range even without using depressed collectors.

Highly efficient, megawatt-class, radio frequency source for mobile ionospheric heaters

A mobile heater for ionospheric modification studies requires a new megawatt (MW) class radio frequency (RF) source operating with an antenna array 1/20 the area of the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP). To deliver an effective power density comparable to HAARP, the total source power must be in the range of 16 MW, thus demanding highly efficient sources. While the development of a whole multi-megawatt system for mobile ionospheric heaters is a complex engineering problem, in the present paper we describe only the work of our group on studying main features of a prototype MW-class vacuum electronics RF source for such system. The source design we are currently pursuing assumes class D operation using a modified version of the inductive output tube. The electron beam is a thin annular beam, switched on and off by a mod-anode as opposed to a grid. The beam is then passed through a decelerating gap, and its kinetic energy is extracted using a tunable resonant circuit that presents a constant impedance in the range of 3–10 MHz. With this design the beam is almost completely decelerated at all frequencies, thus achieving high efficiency.

Generation of shear Alfvén waves by repetitive electron heating

AbstractELF/ULF waves are powerful tools for submarine communication, geophysical mapping, and radiation belt remediation. However, due to their large wavelength (on the order of 102–104 km or 0.1–10 RE) it is difficult to launch them using ground‐based antennas. Alternatively, these waves can be generated by modulating the temperature of the ionosphere using ground‐based HF transmitters. The paper reports a detailed laboratory study on the generation of shear Alfvén waves by repetitive electron heating. The experiments were conducted on the large plasma device at University of California, Los Angeles. In the experiment, 10 pulses of high‐power microwaves (250 kW, 1 µs each) near the plasma frequency modulated at a variable fraction between 0.1 and 1.0 of fci are launched transverse to the background field. In addition to bulk electron heating the interaction generates a population of fast electrons in the tail of the distribution function. The field‐aligned current carried by the fast electrons acts as an antenna that radiates shear Alfvén waves. It is demonstrated that a shear Alfvén wave at a controllable, arbitrary frequency (f < fci) can be coherently driven by the repetitive microwave pulses. The radiation pattern and power dependence of the virtual antenna are also presented. The experiments provide a novel virtual antenna concept relevant to the equatorial region where the Earth's magnetic field is horizontal and the field‐aligned plasma density gradient is small. The results are important to design of new mobile ionospheric heaters for equatorial and middle latitude locations.

The e-POP Radio Receiver Instrument on CASSIOPE

The Radio Receiver Instrument (RRI) is a four-channel digital receiver fed by four 3-metre monopoles, arranged in a crossed configuration, each connected to a high input impedance preamplifier. The RRI bandwidth extends from 10 Hz to 18 MHz. The receiver measures the electric fields of either spontaneous radio emissions or waves created by ground transmitters, such as ionosondes, high-frequency radars and ionospheric heaters. In order to measure accurately the intensity, frequency, direction of propagation and signal delay of such fields over the broad frequency range, modern digital receiver technology is employed. The amplified signals from the monopoles are digitized at a rate of 40 megasamples per second, and from there on, the signal is down-converted, filtered, time-stamped and communicated in digital form. The characterization results of the RRI flight model are reported. Formats for data commands for configuring the digital receiver and for data output are described.

The CERTO Beacon on CASSIOPE/e-POP and Experiments Using High-Power HF Ionospheric Heaters

A new Coherent Electromagnetic Radio Tomography (CERTO) beacon is on the CASSIOPE satellite and part of the enhanced-Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP) suite of scientific instruments. CERTO signals can be used to measure ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) and radio scintillations along propagation paths between CERTO and receivers. The combination of CERTO and the array of e-POP in-situ diagnostics form a powerful tool for studying ionospheric plasma processes that have not been previously possible. Of note, the combination CERTO and the Radio Receiver Instrument (RRI), a modern digital receiver, which measures between 10 Hz to 18 MHz in selectable bands allows for innovative High Frequency (HF) radio propagation experiments. The use of high-power HF ionospheric heating facilities for such experiments further allows for repeatable studies of a number of important plasma processes. The new CERTO beacon transmits un-modulated, phase-coherent waves at 150, 400, and 1067 MHz with either right-hand-circular or linear polarization and TEC is measured using either differential phase and/or Faraday rotation. With a linear array of CERTO receivers, TEC data can be used for tomographic imaging of the ionosphere yielding two-dimensional maps of the plasma below the satellite orbit. In addition, the three CERTO frequencies cover a wide range for determination of radio scintillation effects caused by diffraction from propagation through ionospheric irregularities. We will describe the CERTO beacon and several potential innovative experiments using HF heating facilities in conjunction with CERTO, the RRI and other e-POP instruments.

A short history of geophysical radar at Arecibo Observatory

Abstract. As Arecibo Observatory (AO) approaches its 50th anniversary, it is appropriate to review the many radars and ionospheric heaters that have been deployed on or near the 305 m dish and to summarize some of the innovative radar-based geophysical research that has resulted. The reasons William E. (Bill) Gordon developed the 305 m Arecibo dish are well known but are briefly reviewed. The early and then more recent radar/feed designs are reviewed as geophysical uses of Arecibo have evolved and as the full potential of the dish and nearby facilities was and is being realized from HF through S-band frequencies. This history surely has some gaps and there are a few mysteries. The community is encouraged to fill these gaps and to help complete the history.

Currents can be driven in the polar ionosphere

The study of ionospheric heaters that induce controlled modifications in the ionosphere allows better understanding of effects driven naturally by solar activity in the ionosphere and the radiation belts. Previous ionospheric heaters at the Earth's poles have generated ultralow‐frequency, extremely low frequency, and very low frequency waves in the ionosphere's D andE regions by modulating the auroral electrojet, the strong horizontal currents that naturally flow in the D and E regions at high latitudes. Now Papadopoulos et al. present theoretical and computational results that indicate that using high‐frequency heating, low‐frequency ionospheric currents can also be generated at F region altitudes, independent of the presence or absence of electrojet currents. The new technique, whose validity has been confirmed tentatively in recent polar experiments, allows generation of low‐frequency waves by midlatitude heaters, such as the one under construction in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and their subsequent injection in the inner radiation belt. It will permit for the first time the study of the interaction of artificially generated low‐frequency waves with multi‐MeV protons trapped in the inner belt and their precipitation rates in the South Atlantic anomaly region. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL047368, 2011)

HF-driven currents in the polar ionosphere

[1] Polar ionospheric heaters have generated ULF/ELF/VLF waves by modulating the auroral electrojet at D/E region altitudes. We present theoretical/computational results indicating that modulated F-region HF heating can generate ionospheric currents even in the absence of electrojet currents. The ELF currents are driven in a two-step process. First, the pressure gradient associated with F-region electron heating drives a local diamagnetic current. This acts as an antenna to inject Magneto-Sonic (MS) waves in the ionospheric plasma. Second, the electric field of the magneto-sonic wave drives Hall currents when it reaches the E region of the ionosphere. The Hall currents act as a secondary antenna that injects waves in the Earth-Ionosphere Waveguide below and Shear Alfven waves upwards to the conjugate regions. The paper examines the scaling and limitations of the concept and suggests proof-of-principle experiments using the HAARP ionospheric heater.

Mapping ionospheric backscatter measured by the SuperDARN HF radars – Part 2: Assessing SuperDARN virtual height models

Abstract. The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) network of HF coherent backscatter radars form a unique global diagnostic of large-scale ionospheric and magnetospheric dynamics in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Currently the ground projections of the HF radar returns are routinely determined by a simple rangefinding algorithm, which takes no account of the prevailing, or indeed the average, HF propagation conditions. This is in spite of the fact that both direct E- and F-region backscatter and 1½-hop E- and F-region backscatter are commonly used in geophysical interpretation of the data. In a companion paper, Chisham et al. (2008) have suggested a new virtual height model for SuperDARN, based on average measured propagation paths. Over shorter propagation paths the existing rangefinding algorithm is adequate, but mapping errors become significant for longer paths where the roundness of the Earth becomes important, and a correct assumption of virtual height becomes more difficult. The SuperDARN radar at Hankasalmi has a propagation path to high power HF ionospheric modification facilities at both Tromsø on a ½-hop path and SPEAR on a 1½-hop path. The SuperDARN radar at Þykkvibǽr has propagation paths to both facilities over 1½-hop paths. These paths provide an opportunity to quantitatively test the available SuperDARN virtual height models. It is also possible to use HF radar backscatter which has been artificially induced by the ionospheric heaters as an accurate calibration point for the Hankasalmi elevation angle of arrival data, providing a range correction algorithm for the SuperDARN radars which directly uses elevation angle. These developments enable the accurate mappings of the SuperDARN electric field measurements which are required for the growing number of multi-instrument studies of the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere.

Enhanced ionospheric ELF/VLF generation efficiency by multiple timescale modulated heating

It is shown theoretically that for high power HF ionospheric heaters, such as the current HAARP heater, the HF to VLF conversion can increase significantly by using a two‐timescale heating. A long heating pulse, tp ≈ 1 minute, is followed over the same timescale period by modulation at the desired ELF/VLF frequency. The long pulse reduces the electron‐ion recombination coefficient, resulting in increased ambient electron density and current density. The efficiency increases due to the increase in the current density over the time tp. Besides, the more efficient heating results from sharpening of the ambient density profile at the modified height that reduces low altitude self‐absorption. It is shown that following the long preheating pulse by amplitude modulated heating at VLF frequencies can result in efficiency increase of up to 7 dB over the non‐preheated case. In addition to the theory the letter describes proof‐of‐principle experiments using the completed HAARP.

Diffraction model of ionospheric irregularity‐induced heater‐wave pattern detected on the WIND satellite

High frequency (HF) radiation from the HAARP and SURA ionospheric heaters transmitted through the underdense ionosphere and received by the WIND satellite show the presence of strong spatial structure in the radiation pattern. A simple model based on the combination of ionospheric irregularities and interference effects has been developed to account for the observations. The analysis demonstrates the utility of satellite receptions as probes of ionospheric irregularities created or enhanced by powerful HF radio waves.

Ionospheric heating with obliquely incident waves

Nearly all ionospheric heaters operate at vertical incidence. Oblique waves cannot satisfy frequency‐matching conditions necessary to excite the parametric decay instability, and they are weakened by geometric spreading below the ionosphere. Those spreading losses are mitigated, however, by focussing near caustics. This paper calculates fields near the caustics of oblique waves and estimates the corresponding increases in electron temperature. It finds that a transmitter having a power‐gain product of 5 MW can raise the temperature of F‐layer electrons by a hundred degrees or more. Those temperature increases are initially concentrated in narrow regions near caustics, but spread by heat conduction over tens of kilometers.