Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission Research Articles

Features of Narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission Depending on the Effective Radiated Power of the EISCAT/Heating Facility

Features of Narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission Depending on the Effective Radiated Power of the EISCAT/Heating Facility

Features of Narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission Depending on the Effective Radiated Power of the EISCAT/Heating Facility

Estimates of excitation thresholds and the analysis of spectral features of narrowband stimulated electromagnetic emission (NSEE) depending on the electric-field intensity of an extraordinary polarized HF pump wave have been carried out. They are based on results obtained during power stepping EISCAT/Heating experiments. The HF pump wave was radiated toward the magnetic zenith at frequency of 5.423 MHz. The effective radiated power was changed from 55 to 360 MW. NSEE was recorded in the vicinity of St. Petersburg at a distance of ~1200 km away of the EISCAT/Heating facility. Calculations of the electric field of a powerful HF radio wave near the reflection altitude taking into account the nondeviation absorption in the underlying layers were performed. The threshold (minimum) values of the electric field required for the NSEE excitation were determined.

Comparison of Spectral Features of Narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission Excited by an Extraordinary Pump Wave in the High-latitude Ionospheric F Region at Frequencies below and above the F2 Layer X-component Critical Frequency

Comparison of Spectral Features of Narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission Excited by an Extraordinary Pump Wave in the High-latitude Ionospheric F Region at Frequencies below and above the F2 Layer X-component Critical Frequency

Some Results of Photometric Measurements of Ionospheric Artificial Airglow at 557.7 and 630 nm Lines of Atomic Oxygen Caused by High-Frequency Radio Emission of the SURA Facility during Development of Sporadic E Layer

The results of analysis of the experimental data collected on 5 September 2021 on 557.7 and 630 nm artificial airglow of the ionosphere induced by powerful HF radio waves at the SURA facility are presented. For optical measurements, a photometric suite located directly next to the SURA facility was used. Fast variations in the atmospheric emission intensity at 557.7 nm, 630 nm, and 391.4 nm with a three-channel photometer and spatial–temporal variations in the 557.7 nm with a CCD camera were measured. An ionospherically reflected pump wave and the stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) were recorded. Background ionospheric conditions were registered with ionosonde. For the first time, an increase in the 557.7 nm emission intensity induced by the SURA facility radiation was found concurrently with a partial blocking ionosphere in the F-region and suppression HF-induced phenomena in the F-region (the 630 nm airglow increase and SEE generation, powerful radio wave anomalous absorption) during the sporadic E-layer (Es) development. Additionally, we managed to obtain images showing moving spots of the SURA-induced 557.7 nm emission increased intensity at the Es layer heights.

A Stimulated Emission Diagnostic Technique for Electron Temperature of the High Power Radio Wave Modified Ionosphere

AbstractWe report observations of stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) induced by high power high frequency (HF) radio waves near the third electron gyroharmonic (3) at European Incoherent Scatter Radar (EISCAT). It is discovered that stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) spectrum behaves similarly as spectral ion lines of the incoherent scatter radar (ISR) for HF pumping frequency above 3. The SBS spectral width shows correlation with electron to ion temperature ratio Te/Ti. A new inversion method is proposed by incorporating the SBS spectral width within an artificial neural network approach to achieve electron temperature inversion for ionospheric turbulent plasmas. This work provides a potential new technique to diagnose parameters in the modified ionosphere when the ISR is not available.

HF-Induced Modifications of the Electron Density Profile in the Earth’s Ionosphere Using the Pump Frequencies near the Fourth Electron Gyroharmonic

We discuss results on plasma density profile modifications in the F-region ionosphere that are caused by HF heating with the frequency f0 in the range [(−150 kHz)–(+75 kHz)] around the fourth electron gyroharmonic 4fc. The experiments were conducted at the HAARP facility in June 2014. A multi-frequency Doppler sounder (MDS), which measures the phase and amplitude of reflected sounding radio waves, complemented by the observations of the stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) were used for the diagnostics of the plasma perturbations. We detected noticeable plasma expulsion from the reflection region of the pumping wave and from the upper hybrid region, where the expulsion from the latter was strongly suppressed for f0 ≈ 4fc. The plasma expulsion from the upper hybrid region was accompanied by the sounding wave’s anomalous absorption (AA) slower development for f0 ≈ 4fc. Furthermore, slower development and weaker expulsion were detected for the height region between the pump wave reflection and upper hybrid altitudes. The combined MDS and SEE allowed for establishing an interconnection between different manifestations of the HF-induced ionospheric turbulence and determining the altitude of the most effective pump wave energy input to ionospheric plasma by using the dependence on the offset between f0 and 4fc.

Geomagnetic field impacts on second harmonic generation during high power radio wave-ionosphere interaction

Contained herein are results from an experimental study of geomagnetic field (B0) impacts on second harmonic generation (SHG) during the interaction of high power, high frequency radio waves with the ionosphere. These magnetic field effects on SHG are assessed by (1) considering the proximity of the pump frequency to the electron gyroharmonic frequency and (2) considering the pump antenna beam angle relative to the geomagnetic field direction. The observations show evidence of ion Bernstein mode wave-mixing processes in stimulated electromagnetic emissions (SEEs) simultaneously near the pump wave frequency (f0) and its second harmonic (2f0). In an experiment performed at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility, the transmit antenna beam was either oriented along or tilted away from B0, and f0 was stepped near the second harmonic of the electron gyrofrequency (2fce). SEEs ordered by the oxygen ion gyrofrequency (fci) are observed in spectra near 2f0 for: (1) a B0-oriented antenna beam when f0≈2fce and (2) f0<2fce, when the beam is tilted away, but not beyond a maximum angle from B0. The observations motivate further studies to develop SHG into important diagnostics for the modified ionosphere.

Multi-frequency SuperDARN radar observations of the modulated ionosphere by high-power radio-waves at EISCAT

This paper presents the first joint observations of multi-frequency SuperDARN (Super Dual Auroral Radar Network) radar of the heated ionosphere by high-power high-frequency (HF) ground-based radio-waves along with the stimulated electromagnetic emissions (SEE) measurements. The unique heating experiment design at EISCAT (The European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association) including fine frequency stepping through the fourth electron gyro-frequency (4fce) provided the opportunity to directly determine the plasma waves responsible for SuperDARN radar echoes. Past experiments using a unique Kodiak SuperDARN receiver in Alaska with capability of data recording over a large bandwidth of frequencies different from the radar transmission frequency was able to detect some radar echoes due to pump-excited plasma waves. However, a precise characterization of these waves could not be reached in the past. Comparison of the behavior of the SEE data measured on the ground besides the multi-frequency SuperDARN observations above the heated ionosphere at EISCAT has shown a good correlation with the characteristics of upper-hybrid (UH)/electron Bernstein (EB) waves excited through parametric decay instability. The ray tracing model based on the EISCAT dynasonde data of the background ionospheric parameters has been used in order to determine the natural ionospheric effects on the propagation path of 9.9 MHz, 13.2 MHz, and 16.6 MHz signals associated with SuperDARN radar. By providing a more direct connection between SuperDARN echoes and the associated SEE measurements, this new technique potentially provides more quantitative characterization of plasma waves generated during ionospheric heating.

Simulation studies of strongly turbulent stimulated Brillouin backscattering during ionospheric heating

ABSTRACTRecent experimental observations of stimulated electromagnetic emissions (SEE) during ionospheric heating have shown that the SEE spectrum produced as a result of the stimulated Brillouin backscatter (SBS) instability is structurally very different for low and high pump power regimes. Initial results from electromagnetic Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulation studies conducted to investigate the difference in the SBS SEE spectrum for the two pump power regimes are presented. Simulation results presented here are used to gain insight into ionospheric heating experiments at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility in which the pump power either linearly increased from a low power to the maximum available power, or was maintained at the maximum available power during the heating cycle. The observations show (1) a distinct, narrow SEE spectral line downshifted from the pump frequency, due to SBS, for the low power case and (2) a broad, aggregate SBS SEE structure downshifted from the pump frequency for the high power heating. In general, the spectra of the backscattered EM field obtained from PIC simulations for the two pump power regimes show correspondence with the HAARP observational data. Simulations predict that the broad spectral structure for the high power case results from strong ion acoustic (IA) turbulence. Further characteristics of the strong turbulence include cavity development in the ion density in which (I) strong long lifespan EM waves are trapped (II) short-lived ES waves are trapped, and (III) high temperature electrons exist.

Pump Power Effects on Second Harmonic Stimulated Electromagnetic Emissions During Ionosphere Heating

AbstractDue to the potential for new diagnostic capabilities, there has been renewed interest in the generation of ionospheric stimulated electromagnetic emissions (SEEs) near the second harmonic of the pump frequency (ω0), a process known as second harmonic generation (SHG). Observations of SHG during experiments at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program facility in which ω0 was stepped near the third harmonic of the electron gyrofrequency, 3ωce, and the transmit power linearly increased over the heating cycle at each ω0, were reported recently. A key observation was the linkage between SEEs within ±30 Hz of ω0, due to stimulated Brillouin scatter, and within ±30 Hz of 2ω0. This current work reports further High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program observations that compare the time evolution of SEEs including SHG under the following two transmit power conditions (I) linear power ramp (II) maximum available power (2.8 MW). During these experiments, ω0 was stepped near 3ωce and also 2ωce. The results show that SEEs within ±100 Hz of ω0 and 2ω0 are both suppressed within a few seconds when the ionosphere is irradiated with the maximum available power. These SEEs appear to be suppressed before the onset of field‐aligned irregularities at the upper hybrid layer which is not in line with previous reports. Thus, other mechanisms, which are discussed, could possibly be responsible for the observed suppression of stimulated Brillouin scatter and SHG. Some preliminary diagnostics are derived from the SHG spectra temporal evolution by leveraging concepts from the field of laser plasma interactions.

Features of downshifted maximum spectra during a dual-pump ionospheric heating experiment

An ionospheric heating experiment was conducted using the dual-pump mode at the EISCAT/HEATING facility in Tromsø, Norway. Some new features were found in the downshifted maximum (DM) component of the stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) spectra. During the experiment, the DM1 generated by pump 1 was enhanced under the action of pump 2 with the peak intensity being increased by ∼4.8–9.8 dB to achieve maximum value, when the frequency of pump 2 was 4.100 MHz. The gyro resonance at the upper hybrid altitude played an important role in this phenomenon. It was also observed that the development time of DM2 generated by pump 2 was greatly shorter than that of DM1 due to the precondition provided by the artificial field-aligned irregularities (AFAIs) stimulated by pump 1. Additionally, the frequency offset and peak intensity of the DM1 spectrum showed a significant negative correlation, where the correlation coefficient reached a value of −0.91.

Properties of the Stimulated Electromagnetic Emissions During the Inclined High‐Frequency Pumping of the Ionosphere Near the Fourth Electron Gyroharmonic at the High‐Frequency Active Auroral Research Program Facility

AbstractMany phenomena in the high‐frequency pumped ionosphere exhibit dependence on the pump beam incident angle α. This motivates a systematic study of the α dependence of the stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE), particularly near electron gyroharmonics. We report the first observations of stationary SEE spectra for α ranging from −28° (north) to 28° (south) at three receiving sites, for the pump frequency (f0) sweeping near the fourth gyroharmonic (4fc). The following is established: (i) For pumping near the magnetic zenith (α = 7°, 14°, 21°), when existent dynamic broad upshifted maximum in the SEE spectrum indicates that artificial ionization layers are excited, suppression of the downshifted maximum at f0 ≈ 4fс is weakest, and 4fс increases. (ii) Weaker similar effects occur for α = −14° (a condition called “mirror magnetic zenith”). (iii) For northern pump beam inclinations, the SEE intensity decreases (in comparison with southern inclinations and vertical), most strongly at the southernmost receiving site.

Narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission (NSEE) Yielding Electron Temperature Measurements at the Arecibo Observatory

Narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission (NSEE) Yielding Electron Temperature Measurements at the Arecibo Observatory

Investigation of incoherent scatter radar spectra features with stimulated electromagnetic emissions at EISCAT

Electromagnetic (EM) and electrostatic (ES) emissions can be generated in the ionosphere by high-power high-frequency (HF) radio waves transmitted from the ground. The signatures of the EM emissions observed on the ground are known as Stimulated Electromagnetic Emissions (SEE) and can be employed for remote measurement of ionospheric parameters. The experimental data from recent HF heating experiments near the fourth electron gyro-frequency (4fce) at EISCAT are presented. This paper compares the temporal behavior of SEE within a few Hertz up to 50 kHz of the transmission frequency to the time evolution of enhanced ion line (EHIL) in the incoherent scatter radar (ISR) spectrum. The correlation of Wideband SEE (WSEE) spectral lines within 1 kHz to 100 kHz such as the downshifted maximum (DM), downshifted peak (DP), and broad upshifted maximum (BUM), with HF enhanced ion lines (EHIL) is shown. It is shown that WSEE spectral lines can be used to reproduce the EHIL characteristics including altitude range, rise and decay time, maximum and minimum amplitude. A data reduction technique is developed to derive ionospheric parameters such as the electron density profile near the interaction altitude, magnetic field strength B0 as well as the altitude profile of the EHIL using the temporal evolution of WSEE spectral lines near nfce.

Stimulated electromagnetic emissions spectrum observed during an X-mode heating experiment at the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association

An extraordinary (X-mode) electromagnetic wave, injected into the ionosphere by the ground-based heating facility at Tromso, Norway, was utilized to modify the ionosphere on November 6, 2017. The high-power high-frequency transmitter facility located at Tromso belongs to the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association. In the experiment, stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) spectra were observed. A narrow continuum occurred under cold-start conditions and showed an overshoot effect lasting several seconds. Cascading peaks occurred on both sides of the heating frequency only in the preconditioned ionosphere and also showed an overshoot effect. These SEE features are probably related to the ponderomotive process in the X-mode heating experiment and are helpful for understanding the physical mechanism that generated them during the X-mode heating experiment. The features observed in the X-mode heating experiments are novel and require further investigation.

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of HF‐Induced Ionospheric Turbulence Revealed by Diagnostic Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission and Test Radio Waves at HAARP

AbstractThis paper describes the dynamic characteristics of ionospheric plasma turbulences excited by high‐power high‐frequency radio waves during ionospheric modification experiments at the High‐frequency Active Auroral Research Program heating facility, Gakona, Alaska. The data come from measurements of high‐frequency‐induced stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) and anomalous absorption of test radiowaves. In addition to quasi‐continuous pump (QCP) waves that excite the “standard” SEE, short pulses of diagnostic waves at frequencies shifted from the QCP frequency have been injected to generate diagnostic SEE. This experimental setup allowed us to study the spectra and damping rates of the plasma waves related to both diagnostic and QCP waves, as well as the QCP‐related small‐scale magnetic field‐aligned irregularities at different altitudes, ±25 km around the center of the heated volume. The results of numerical simulations of the upper hybrid‐related SEE and diagnostic SEE under a “double‐transformation” scheme with the use of an empirical model of the irregularities' spatial spectrum and its dynamics are in good agreement with the observations.

Asymmetry in Stimulated Emission Polarization and Irregularity Evolution During Ionospheric Electron Gyroharmonic Heating

AbstractThe first report is made of a holistic investigation of stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) during ionospheric electron gyroharmonic heating using a diagnostic approach at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program facility. The evolution of SEE polarization and plasma irregularity development near the third electron gyroharmonic 3fce is investigated, which provides new insights into SEE generation mechanisms by the associated parametric decay instabilities. New more complex SEE spectral line behavior is clearly observed for varying transmitter beam angles. New SEE spectral emissions are observed at ∼75 kHz when pumping below 3fce. The high‐frequency radar echoes and SEE polarimetry appear asymmetric for pumping above 3fce, which implies that the broad upshifted maximum spectral line formation involves plasma irregularities scattered by high‐frequency radar echoes. This has important implications for understanding artificial ionization layer generation during ionospheric modification.

First Observations of Narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emissions at the Pump Frequency Second Harmonic During Ionosphere Interaction Experiments

AbstractReported herein are first observations of narrowband stimulated electromagnetic emissions (NSEEs) within ±30 Hz of the second harmonic of the pump wave frequency during ionospheric heating experiments at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program facility. The observations are juxtaposed with contemporaneous NSEEs observed within ±30 Hz of the pump wave frequency. The transmit power of the pump wave is linearly increased, and the pump wave frequency is stepped through frequencies near the third electron gyroharmonic frequency during the experiment. The first observation is that there is a transmit power threshold for the occurrence of NSEEs downshifted from the second harmonic of the pump wave frequency. Secondly, when downshifted NSEEs are present at both the pump frequency and its second harmonic, the transmit power threshold for the onset of both are comparable. Third, the frequency offset of the downshifted NSEEs spectral line from the second harmonic frequency is approximately twice the frequency offset of the downshifted NSEEs spectral line from the pump wave frequency when the downshifted NSEEs are present near both the pump and second harmonic frequency. Finally, the NSEEs at the second harmonic of the pump wave frequency are suppressed at pump frequencies very close to the third electron gyroharmonic frequency.

Study of the Plasma Turbulence Dynamics by Measurements of Diagnostic Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission. Part II. Results of Numerical Simulation

The data on measured dynamic characteristics of diagnostic stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) of the ionosphere are presented. Numerical simulations of the SEE evolution within the framework of a theoretical model of the broad-continuum SEE feature with the use of improved (3D) empirical model of the spatial spectrum of artificial irregularities of the HF pumped ionospheric plasma are performed and compared with the measurement data. Possible applications of such a comparison for determining the spectrum parameters and studying the evolution of the geomagnetic field-aligned artificial irregularities (striations) are discussed. It is concluded that changes in the intensity and spectrum shape of the striations, mainly for transverse scales l ⊥ ~ 2–18 m, play the decisive role in the observed variations of the magnitude and temporal characteristics of the overshoot effect (formation of the intensity maximum followed by the suppression of the ionospheric SEE intensity).

First observations of electron gyro-harmonic effects under X-mode HF pumping the high latitude ionospheric F-region

We provide the first experimental evidence of the sensitivity of phenomena induced by extraordinary (X-mode) polarized HF high power radio waves to pump frequency stepping across the fifth electron gyro-harmonic (5fce) from below to above. The results were obtained at the EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association) HF heater facility near Tromsø under effective radiated powers of 456–715MW, when the HF pump wave was transmitted into the magnetic zenith. We have analyzed the behavior and intensities of various spectral lines in the narrowband stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) spectra observed far from the heater, HF-enhanced plasma and ion lines (HFPL and HFIL) from EISCAT UHF incoherent scatter radar spectra, and artificial field-aligned irregularities from CUTLASS (Co-operative UK Twin Located Auroral Sounding System) observations, depending on the frequency offset of the pump field relative to the 5fce. At pump frequencies below 5fce the narrowband SEE spectra exhibited very intense so-called stimulated ion Bernstein scatter (SIBS), accompanied by other spectral components, associated with stimulated Brillouin scatter (SBS), which are greatly suppressed and disappeared in the vicinity of 5fce and did not reappear at fH>5fce. As the pump frequency reached 5fce, the abrupt enhancements of the HFPL and HFIL power, the appearance of cascade lines in the plasma line spectra, and the onset of increasing CUTLASS backscatter power occurred. That is opposite to the ordinary mode (O-mode) effects in the vicinity of 5fce. The X-mode pumping at frequencies below and in the vicinity of the fifth electron gyro-harmonic clearly demonstrated an ascending altitude of generation of induced plasma and ion lines from the initial interaction height, whereas for O-mode heating the region of interaction descended. The observations are consistent with the coexistence of the electron acceleration along and across the geomagnetic field at fH<5fce, while only very strong electron acceleration along the magnetic field was observed at fH≥5fce.