Electromagnetic wave interaction with the auroral plasma

High power radio electromagnetic waves interaction with the auroral plasma has been investigated. Plasma in this auroral region can be illuminated by EM waves for a prolonged period of time and thus, experiences accumulative perturbations and resonances because of its long plasma lifetime, slow transport rates, and weak convection, especially near the peak of the ionospheric electron density profile. A plasma resonance at a specific height in the ionosphere has a corresponding EM wave frequency. These plasma resonances can enhance the local electromagnetic fields, and therefore their interactions with plasma particles leading to turbulences, local heating, density perturbations, and field aligned striations. The non-linear process at the resonance layer also stimulates the emission of electromagnetic waves which appear as the sidebands of the reflected EM wave. These effects are more pronounced when the EM wave frequency is near foF2, the frequency for the resonance near the peak of the ionospheric electron density profile. Optical emissions are also enhanced under such conditions.; This thesis describes two major experiments performed at the HIPAS and HAARP facilities, namely the preconditioning and the second harmonic matching experiments. The experimental data confirms the region where the most efficient interaction between the EM waves and the auroral plasma are near the peak of the ionospheric density profile and where the EM wave frequency matches both the local plasma frequency and the second harmonic of the ionospheric electron cyclotron frequency.; In the preconditioning experiments, the ionosphere is first pre-conditioned with high power EM wave. This generates field-aligned striations, which in turn reduces the threshold level of the non-linear process at the resonance layer. The spectral features of the sidebands are excited with an effective radiation power (ERP) level of 24 dB less than that normally required. We observed that using the preconditioning heating scheme at near the f_oF₂ resonant layer, the non-linear process is enhanced. Experimental data shows that the density perturbation created in this layer is the strongest and needs a longer period of time for it to recover.; We performed the study of interactions at the second harmonic of the ionospheric electron cyclotron frequency (2f_ce), using the HIPAS facility. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...