Ray-tracing simulation of swept-frequency backscatter ionograms
By: Ming S. Wong
Series: Environmental Research Papers -- no. 492; Environmental research papers (Hanscom AFB, Mass.) -- no. 492
Publisher: United States Air Force, Air Force Systems Command, Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, Ionospheric Physics Laboratory
Published: 1974
Place of publication: Bedford, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 25
Subjects: Backscattering; Ray tracing
Description: Computed swept-frequency traces of minimum group-path in backscatter-radar ionograms are presented for ionospheric electron distributions in the polar region. Some of the traces for ground backscatter contain cusps that are shown to result when a small fraction of rays from the radar encounter a region in which the vertical electron-density gradient decreases sharply with distance after the rays passed through apogees. An accurate geomagnetic field model is used in obtaining traces for direct backscatter from field-aligned ionization that causes radar auroral clutter. A method is described for representing three-dimensional electron distributions. The method is sufficiently flexible for iterative ray computations, which appear as a reasonable and potentially reliable approach to the problem of converting backscatter-radar ionograms to electron distributions.
Notes: "AFCRL-TR-74-0539."

"Ionospheric Physics Laboratory Project 5631."

"25 October 1974."

Cover title.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 25).