Scintillation studies of scattered radio waves in the ionosphere

Abstract

Second order statistical moments of scattered radio wave in the turbulent collision magnetized plasma are investigated for the anisotropic Gaussian correlation function of electron density fluctuations using the modify smooth perturbation method taking into account polarization coefficients of the ordinary and extraordinary HF wave modes and the diffraction effects. The behavior of the phase structure function of the ordinary and extraordinary waves is different in the principle (location of an external magnetic field) plane while the same in the perpendicular plane. Anisotropy, diffraction effects and collision between plasma particals have substantial influence of the phase structure function on the extraordinary wave in the principle plane. Varing anisotropy factor the angle of arrival in the principle plane less than in the perpendicular plane. Investigation of the scintillation effects are carried out for small-scale plasma irregularities. It was shown that increasing frequency of an incident wave from 3 MHz up to 40 MHz scintillation level decreases. Splashes caused by the strong phase fluctuations are revealed in the normalized scintillation level at 40 MHz frequency. Comparison of the scintillation level at the frequencies 3 MHz and 40 MHz show that the amplitude of scintillation decreases with increasing frequency of an incident wave. Scintillation level of scattered radio wave also depends on the spectrum of electron density irregularities.