Microwave Investigation of the Dielectric Waveguide Propagation by Magneto-Ionic Ducts

摘要

Magneto-ionic propagation in a cylindrical plasma of circular cross-section has been investigated theoretically and experimentally in a straight and in a curvilinear geometry. The microwave signal transmitted through a plasma generated from an RF discharge in Neon has been measured as a function of the discharge power, of the magnetic field, of the gas pressure and of the pitch angle of the helical winding, used as a mode-selective input. The experimental results have been explained by the theory of the magneto-ionic propagation in an ionized medium with a plasma frequency larger than the signal frequency. The theoretical results and their implications on the ionospheric interpretation of whistler atmospheric behaviour are also discussed. (Author)