On the Refraction and Doppler Shift of Radiowaves Radiated by Artificial Earth Satellites in a Three-Dimensional Heterogeneous Ionosphere

摘要

On the basis of the Fermat principle, using its analogy with the principle of least action, equations of the Lagrange-Euler type are written for the ionosphere and, from these, a generalized law for refraction in a three-dimensional - heterogeneous medium was formulated. Finally formulas were obtained for the refraction angles and the Doppler shift of radio waves radiated by a source located in the ionosphere. Here we examine a situation which is realizable with artificial earth satellite (AES) experiments, when the wave frequency is sufficiently great. For this case the Doppler shift depends linearly on: 1) the localized value of electron concentration in the vicinity of the emitter, 2) the refraction angles near the observation point in two planes which are mutually perpendicular relative to it and to the source, and 3) the average gradient values of the electron concentration along the trajectory of wave S. The corresponding analysis of the Doppler shift component caused by the influence of the ionosphere and measurable upon coherent radio waves radiation from AES makes it possible to determine all of these values. (Author)