A Spaced-Receiver Data Analysis Technique for Simultaneously Estimating Anisotropy and Pattern Drifts in Radio Wave Transmission Experiments

摘要

This report describes a technique for simultaneously estimating the anisotropy and relative drift of the diffraction pattern in a radio-wave transmission experiment. The technique was developed to analyze the spaced-receiver data from the Wideband Satellite. Radio-wave scintillation data exhibit a complicated dependence on the propagation geometry relative to the magnetic field. Thus, we have also developed a theory that relates the anisotropy of the measured diffraction pattern to the anisotropy of the ionospheric irregularities. The results show that one must correct the commonly used apparent velocity obtained by dividing the delay to the cross correlation function maximum into the baseline length, particularly for auroral observations where the propagation paths come near the magnetic zenith. The preliminary results are consistent with sheet-like irregularity structures that have been hypothesized to exist in the auroral zone and highly elongated rod-like striations near the geomagnetic equator. (Author)