METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE AMBIPOLAR DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT IN THE EARTH'S LOWER IONOSPHERE

摘要

FIELD: physics.;SUBSTANCE: invention relates to remote methods of measuring parameters of lower ionosphere. Invention involves generation of artificial periodic inhomogeneities of ionospheric plasma of two different spatial scales by exposing the ionosphere to perturbing radio-frequency radiation alternatively at two frequencies above the critical frequency for the E-layer and below the critical frequency for the F-layer, emission of probing pulses into ionosphere after termination of disturbing action alternately at same frequencies and with same polarization, reception of signals back scattered by artificial periodic inhomogeneities of ionospheric plasma with two different spatial scales, measuring amplitude and relaxation time of back scattered signals on each of emitted frequencies ƒ₁ and ƒ₂, determination of signal relaxation time dependence, scattered periodic radio irregularities scattered by the generated disturbing radio radiation at the investigated heights h, as per the decrease of the amplitude of the scattered signal by e times at each height, determining the relaxation time of inhomogeneities τ₁(h) formed by disturbing radio frequency radiation at frequency ƒ₁, and inhomogeneity relaxation time τ₂(h) formed by disturbing radio frequency radiation at frequency ƒ₂, measuring refraction indices n₁ at frequency ƒ₁ and n₂ at frequency ƒ₂ and by formula coefficient of ambipolar diffusion at specified height is determined.;EFFECT: high altitude-time resolution and high accuracy of determining the coefficient of ambipolar diffusion.;1 cl, 1 dwg