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Vol 59, No 7 (2016)

Article

Wave Effects Related to Altitude Variations in the Ion Composition of the Ionosphere

Vavilov D.I., Shklyar D.R.

Abstract

Properties of the waves, which can propagate in a magnetized plasma in the frequency range below the proton gyrofrequency, depend strongly on the ion composition of the plasma. Addition of a new sort of ions leads to the appearance of a new resonance frequency, at which the refractive index becomes infinite, and a new cutoff frequency, at which the refractive index becomes zero. In this case, the topology of frequency dependence of the squared refractive index changes. Specifically, a new oscillation branch appears, which is located above the cutoff frequency. A question arises whether these oscillations are excited if radiation with the corresponding frequency, which propagates in a different mode, is present in the plasma. A linear transformation of the waves is another important effect, which is related to variations in the ion plasma composition. These two issues, which are directly related to the theory of formation of proton whistlers in the ionosphere, where the ion composition varies with altitude, are considered in this work.

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics. 2016;59(7):519-534
pages 519-534 views

Long-Term Global Distributions of Mesoscale Variations in Atmospheric Radio Refraction Obtained from the GPS Champ Satellite Data

Gavrilov N.M., Manuilova R.O.

Abstract

We obtain average global distributions of the variances of the mesoscale variations in the atmospheric radio-refraction index (refractive index) at altitudes of 5–35 km from the data of the radio-occultation experiments performed during operation of the low-orbit GPS CHAMP satellite in the period 2001–2009. The filtering of the vertical profiles of the radio-refraction index allows one to determine the variances of the variations with vertical scales below 8 km. The latitudinal-temporal distributions of the zonal-mean variances of the index demonstrate significant interannual variations at various altitudes. Seasonal variations in the variances of radio refraction are studied. Quasi-biennial oscillations at low latitudes are revealed. Acoustic-gravity waves and turbulent and convective motions in the atmosphere can cause a spread of the radio-refraction index.

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics. 2016;59(7):535-545
pages 535-545 views

Determination of the Trace-Gas Concentrations at the Altitudes of the Lower and Middle Mesosphere from the Time Series of Ozone Concentration

Nechaev A.A., Ermakova T.S., Kulikov M.Y.

Abstract

We present a statistical (Bayesian) approach to retrieving the concentrations of the most important mesospheric trace gases at altitudes of 50–75 km using the photochemical model based on the time series of ozone concentration, which are measured during the daylight hours in one day with the help of the ground-based passive microwave devices. Using the model noisy time series of ozone concentration with allowance for the realistic accuracy of its measurements in the mesosphere, which is ensured by the available ozonometers, the accuracy of retrieving the non-measurable mesospheric characteristics is studied as a function of the altitude and the time-series length.

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics. 2016;59(7):546-559
pages 546-559 views

Fractal Model of a Compact Intracloud Discharge. II. Specific Features of Electromagnetic Emission

Davydenko S.S., Iudin D.I.

Abstract

We examine the features of the electromagnetic emission of a compact intracloud discharge (CID) within the framework of the fractal approach [1] described in the first part of the article. Compact intracloud discharge is considered as the result of electric interaction of two bipolar streamer-type structures previously developed in the regions of a strong electric field inside the thundercloud. To estimate the electromagnetic emission of the discharge, the complex tree-like structure of the electric currents at the preliminary and main stages of CID was represented as the sum of a relatively slowly varying large-scale linear mean component and fast small-scale constituents corresponding to the initial formation of elementary conductive channels of the discharge tree. Mean linear current of the discharge is considered as an effective source of the VLF/LF emission at both the preliminary and main stages of a CID. Electrostatic, induction, and radiation components of the electric field at different distances from the mean current are calculated taking into account specific features of both stages of the discharge within the framework of the transmission-line model. It is shown that at the preliminary stage only the electrostatic component can mainly be detected, whereas at the main stage all the above components of the electric field can be reliably measured. Dependence of the radiation electric field at the main stage on the length of the discharge channel and propagation velocity of the current front is analyzed. It is found that due to the bi-directional expansion of the current at the main stage of a CID the radiation field pulse remains narrow in a wide range of discharge parameters. The small-scale currents corresponding to the initial breakdown between the neighboring cells of the discharge domain are considered as the sources of HF/VHF radiation. It is shown that HF/VHF emission at the preliminary stage is negligible as compared to emission at the main stage. It is also established that at the main stage, first, the HF/VHF emission burst correlates well with the initial peak of the VLF/LF electric field pulse and, second, its spectrum corresponds to the power law with an exponent between −2 and −1.

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics. 2016;59(7):560-575
pages 560-575 views

Influence of Oceanic Synoptic Eddies on the Duration of Modal Acoustic Pulses

Makarov D.V., Kon’kov L.E., Petrov P.S.

Abstract

We consider the problem of scattering of the modal acoustic pulses from synoptic eddies with allowance for the influence of the field of internal waves. The ray formalism in terms of the action–angle variables is used. The synoptic-eddy induced distortion of the sound-speed profile is shown to enhance the scattering of certain ray bundles from internal waves. The formulas allowing one to identify the modal pulses corresponding to such ray bundles are derived. These pulses differ from the other ones by increased duration. This fact can be used for obtaining additional information during acoustic tomography. The model of the underwater acoustic channel in the Sea of Japan is considered as an example.

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics. 2016;59(7):576-591
pages 576-591 views

Limiting and Fedosov’s Currents of a Strongly Magnetized Electron Beam in Asymmetric Transportation Channels

Goikhman M.B., Gromov A.V., Kovalev N.F., V.Palitsin A.

Abstract

We consider the properties of thin-walled, strongly magnetized electron beams in closed evacuated transportation channels with arbitrary cross sections of the channel and the electron beam. Explicit precise formulas are obtained for the limiting and Fedosov’s currents of such electron beams. The found relationships allow one to explain many observed phenomena and can serve as a basis for verification of the results of more complicated calculations.

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics. 2016;59(7):592-595
pages 592-595 views

Spatial Instability of the Linearly Polarized Plane Wave in a Cubic Crystal

Kuz’mina M.S., Khazanov E.A.

Abstract

We study theoretically the development of a small-scale spatial instability of a plane wave in a cubic crystal with [111], [001] and [101] orientations. It is shown that in the [111] oriented crystals the instability develops at lower intensities than in the [001] and [101] oriented crystals. In the latter two crystals, the instability can significantly be suppressed by choosing the optimal radiation polarization. It is found that in the case of a small B integral, the method of temporal contrast enhancement of laser pulses by generating an orthogonal polarization achieves the largest efficiency with the [101] orientation, while the [001] orientation is more preferable for B > 3.

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics. 2016;59(7):596-604
pages 596-604 views