TEMPORAL POWER SPECTRUM OF SCATTERED

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN THE EQUATORIAL

TERRESTRIAL IONOSPHERE

G. JANDIERI1 , A. ISHIMARU2 , N. TUGUSHI3∗ AND N. MCHEDLISHVILI4

Abstract. Statistical characteristics of the temporal spectrum of scattered

ordinary and extraordinary electromagnetic waves in the equatorial region
of the conductive terrestrial ionosphere are investigated using the stochastic
transport equation for a frequency fluctuation, applying the geometrical optics
approximation. The broadening of the temporal spectrum and the shift of its
maximum contain the velocity of a turbulent plasma flow and the anisotropic
parameters of electron density irregularities. Second-order statistical moments
of electromagnetic waves do not depend on the absorption sign and are valid
for both active and absorptive random media. The frequency of the turbulent
pulsations and the conductivity of the ionospheric plasma have a substantial
influence on the evaluation of the spectrum varying propagation distances. A
new doble-humped effect in the temporal spectrum has been revealed for the
ordinary wave at different anisotropy factors and the inclination angle of elon-
gated plasmonic structures. Numerical calculations are carried out using the
experimental data. Investigations of space-time fluctuations of electromagnetic
wave radiation are of essential interest for radio astronomy and atmospheric
physics.

1. Introduction
Introduction Many papers are devoted to the theoretical investigations and ob-
servations of the statistical characteristics of scattered radiation in the turbulent
plasma [1-4]. The analysis of the statistical properties of small-amplitude electro-
magnetic waves that have passed in a turbulent collision magnetized plasma is very
important in many practical applications associated with both natural and labo-
ratory plasmas. Peculiarities of the spatial spectrum of scattered electromagnetic
waves in the F-region of the polar ionosphere were considered in [5-10] applying the
complex geometrical optics approximation and the modified smooth perturbation
method. It was shown that the spatial-temporal fluctuations of electron density,
external magnetic field, anisotropy, and angle of inclination of elongated irregular-
ities relative to the geomagnetic lines of forces may lead to the amplification of the
intensity of the frequency fluctuations of scattered electromagnetic waves in the
collision magnetized plasma. Multiple scattered effects of waves are revealed more
strongly at large-scale slowly varying in time irregularities, when the secondary
waves with close frequencies propagate in a narrow spatial angle near the direction
of an initial wave. Currently, the equatorial ionosphere is of great interest. The

2020 Mathematics Subject Classification. 26A33, 42B20.

Key words and phrases. statistical moments, electromagnetic waves, turbulence, temporal
spectrum, ionospheric irregularities, conductivities.
∗ N Tugushi.

1
2 G. JANDIERI1 , A. ISHIMARU2 , N. TUGUSHI3∗ AND N. MCHEDLISHVILI4

statistical characteristics of scattered electromagnetic waves in this region have not

been considered till now. Ionospheric conductivity is one of the main parame-
ters having substantial influence on plasma dynamics and transport mechanisms at
waves’ propagation in the terrestrial ionosphere. In reality inhomogeneous media
randomly vary both in space and in time. Harmonic waves scattered over these
irregularities become nonharmonic. Spectral lines become broad. Generally, the
propagation of a wave with a complex spectral structure continuously changes its
spectrum. The features of the temporal spectrum in the polar region of the ter-
restrial ionosphere have been considered in [11]. In this paper for the first-time
we study the evaluation of the temporal spectrum of scattered both the ordinary
(O-wave) and extraordinary (E-wave) electromagnetic waves in the equatorial iono-
sphere with a slowly varying with position and time electron density irregularities
using four-dimensional WKB (Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin) method. We will inves-
tigate the influence of the absorption on the statistical characteristics of the wave in
the turbulent collision conductive magnetized plasma using the stochastic transfer
equation for the complex frequency based on the WKB method. The broadening
and shift of the maximum of the temporal spectrum includes the direction of an
external magnetic field, plasma velocity, ionospheric conductivities, the anisotropy
factor of electron density irregularities, and the inclination angle of elongated plas-
monic structures with respect to the geomagnetic lines of forces. The problem is
formulated in section 2, where the second-order statistical moments describing the
broadening phenomenon of the temporal spectrum and the shift of its maximum are
derived by applying the eikonal equation and the stochastic transport equation for
a complex frequency. In section 3, numerical results are presented with discussions
based on the Gaussian correlation function of electron density irregularities con-
taining anisotropic parameters of elongated plasmonic structures and the velocity
of plasma flow applying the experimental data. Some conclusions and discussions
are made in section 4.

2. Methods
2.1. Statistical moments of the temporal spectrum. Methods Asymptotic
and integrated methods are traditional instruments for studying the propagation of
electromagnetic waves in various media. The method describing the mechanism of
short (2-40 MHz) radio waves propagation in the Earth’s ionosphere, which is the
most developed and proved both theoretically and experimentally, is the geometrical
optics approximation describing wave fields in a smoothly inhomogeneous media
with spatial-temporal irregularities [1,2,12]. In case of ionospheric propagation, the
following inequality is usually satisfied: l >> λ ( λ is the wavelength of an incident
wave). This inequality implies that only forward scattering is important in the
random scattering process and the WKB solution is valid for the wave propagation.
The phase satisfying the eikonal equation for each normal wave can be written as
c2 k 2 = ω 2 N 2 (ω, k, n), where k(r, t) = −∇φ, ω(r, t) = ∂φ/∂t are the local wave
vector and the frequency, respectively, which are slowly-varying functions of position
and time; n(r, t) is a fluctuating component of the electron density of a turbulent
plasma at the point r; N 2 (ω, k) is the complex refraction index of a normal wave,
c is the speed of light.
Statistical analysis of a phase and its derivatives on the basis of the eikonal equa-
tion is generally difficult, especially in a non-stationary medium when ω(r, t) is one
TEMPORAL POWER SPECTRUM OF SCATTERED ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN THE EQUATORIAL TERRESTRIAL IONO

of unknown quantity. In quasi-monochromatic small-angle approximation, using

smoothness of the electron density variations n(r, t) = n0 + n1 (r, t), |n1 | << n0 ,
first term is a constant density component, the second one is a random function of
the spatial coordinates describing electron density fluctuations. Taking into account
complexity of index of refraction N (r, t) = N0 (r, t) − iN1 (r, t), we can investigate
statistical moments of the frequency fluctuations of a scattered electromagnetic
wave in the equatorial ionosphere. The imaginary component of the index of re-
fraction in the inhomogeneous anisotropic conductive plasma within the framework
of the complex geometrical optics approximation is connected with a complex wave
vector. The real part of this vector is connected with both plasma inhomogeneity
and the refraction of waves, whereas the complex part of the inhomogeneous wave
(imk ̸= 0) describes the evolution of inhomogeneous waves including diffraction.
Consider the case when the external magnetic field is directed along the Y-axis.
In this case components of the complex permittivity tensor are:
ε̃xx = ε̃zz = ε⊥ − i(σ̃⊥ + sg), ε̃xz = −sæδ + i(σ̃H + æ), ε̃yy = (ε⊥ + p0 u) − i(σ̃∥ + sv),
ε̃xx = ε̃zz , ε̃zx = −ε̃xz , εxy = εyx = εyz = εzy = 0; Here : p0 = v/(1 − u),
√
g = p0 (1 + u)/(1 − u), δ = 2/(1 − u), g1 = (3 − u)/(1 − u), æ = p0 u,
v(r) = ωp2 (r)/ω 2 , u = (eH0 /me cω)2
are the plasma frequency. ωp (r) = [4πNe (r)e2 /me ]1/2 and the electron gyro fre-
quency, respectively. Normalized conductivity tensor σ̃ = 4πσ̂/k0 c of ionospheric
plasma for equatorial latitude [13] contains the Hall’s σH , Pedersen σ⊥ and longi-
tudinal σ∥ conductivities:
   
ωe ωi νe νi
σH = e2 ne − 2 + ω2 ) σ ⊥ = e 2
n e + 2 + ω2 ) ,
me (νe2 + ωe2 ) mi (νin i me (νe2 + ωe2 ) mi (νin i
 
2 1 1
σ∥ = e ne +
me νe mm vin
here: k0 = ω0 /c, me and e are mass and charge of an electron, νe = νen + νin is the
effective collision frequency of electrons with other plasma particles; ωe and ωi are
the angular gyrofrequencies of an electron and ion, respectively.
Complex refractive index N of the conductive collision ionospheric magnetized
plasma in the equatorial region of the terrestrial atmosphere at s ̸= 0, σ̃y ̸= 0 and
s << εij , σ̃ij is as follows:

N (n, ω) = N0 (n0 , ω) − iN1 (n, ω), (2.1)

where: q
p p
N0 = (r + Γ0 )/2, N1 = (r − Γ0 )/2, r = Γ20 + Γ21 ,
Γ0 = 1 − 2(T1 T0 − T2 ψ2 ).(T12 + T22 )−1 , Γ1 = 2(T2 T0 + T1 ψ2 )/(T12 + T22 )2 ,
p p
T1 = A ± D1 , T2 = R1 ± D2 , D1 = (r1 + B)/2, r1 = B 2 + C 2 ,
p
D2 = (r1 − B)/2, ψ1 = Λ1 (sin2 θ − ε∥ ) + σ̃∥ σ̃⊥ (1 + cos2 θ − 2ε⊥ ε∥ ), C = ψ6 − ψ8 ,
2 2
Λ1 = σ̃⊥ + σ̃H + 2æσ̃H , ψ2 = σ̃⊥ sin2 θ + σ̃∥ cos2 θ − Λ2 + 2ε∥ ε⊥ σ̃⊥ + σ̃∥ (ε2⊥ − æ2 − Λ1 ),
Λ2 = 2ε⊥ σ̃⊥ sin2 θ + (ε∥ σ̃⊥ + ε⊥ σ̃∥ )(1 + cos2 θ), c = (1 − ν)[(1 − ν)2 − u]/(1 − u),
b = [2(1 − ν)2 − 2u + νu(1 + cos2 θ)(1 − u)−1 , A = p0 [2(1 − ν) − sin2 θ],
T0 = p0 ν(1 − ν) + ψ1 , α = 1 − p0 (1 − ucos2 θ), ψ3 = Λ1 sin2 θ + σ̃∥ σ̃⊥ (1 + cos2 θ),
4 G. JANDIERI1 , A. ISHIMARU2 , N. TUGUSHI3∗ AND N. MCHEDLISHVILI4

ψ4 = Λ2 − 2(σ̃⊥ sin2 θ + σ̃∥ cos2 θ), ψ6 = 2Λ2 [Λ1 sin2 θ + σ̃∥ σ̃⊥ (1 + cos2 θ) − b],
B = p20 [u2 sin4 θ + 4u(1 − ν)2 cos2 θ] + (ψ5 − ψ7 ),
ψ5 = Λ21 sin4 θ + σ̃∥2 σ̃⊥
2
(1 + cos2 θ)2 − Λ22 − 2b[Λ1 sin2 θ + σ̃∥ σ̃⊥ (1 + cos2 θ)]+
+2Λ1 σ̃∥ σ̃⊥ sin2 θ(1 + cos2 θ),
Λ3 = (σ̃⊥ sin2 θ + σ̃∥ cos2 θ)[2ε∥ ε⊥ σ̃⊥ + σ̃∥ (ε2⊥ − æ − Λ1 )],
ψ7 = 4[Λ3 + αε∥ (Λ1 + 2ε⊥ σ̃∥ σ̃⊥ )],
ψ8 = α[2ε∥ ε⊥ σ̃⊥ + σ̃|| (ε2⊥ − æ2 − Λ1 )] + (σ̃⊥ sin2 θ + σ̃|| cos2 θ)[c − ε|| (Λ1 + 2ε⊥ σ̃|| σ̃⊥ )]
upper sign corresponds to the O-wave, lower sign – to the E-wave; θ is the angle
between the H0 and k0 vectors. For the collisionless and nonconductive turbulent
plasma we obtain the well-known formula [14].
As is well-known [1-4], during the propagation of a radio signal in a randomly
inhomogeneous non-stationary plasma, the Doppler shift is small compared with
the transmitter frequency and the spectrum broadens. The quantitative estimation
of the frequency fluctuations is important as the broadening of a spectrum limits
the resolution of a Doppler method studying the structure of the receiving signal.
On the other hand, by measuring the width of the Doppler spectrum, it is possible
to solve the reverse tasks by receiving information about the statistical properties
of plasma. The ratios connecting changes of frequency with the parameters of
moving plasma irregularities it’s necessary application of the statistical methods as
the tool of the solution of direct and reverse problems of radio waves propagation
in a non-stationary plasma.
For an arbitrary spatial-temporal dispersion in the geometrical optics approxi-
mation neglecting polarization effects, wave frequency satisfies the stochastic dif-
ferential transport equation [15,16]:
 
∂ ωu X ∂N ∂pi
+ (u∇) ω = − (2.2)
∂t c ∂pi ∂t
where: N (ω, pi ) = ck/ω is the complex index of refraction, u = (dω/dk)pi is the
group velocity of the wave; pi is an arbitrary parameter characterizing turbulent
plasma. We assume that in a zero-order approximation a plane wave propagates
in the y- direction. Eikonal equation describes virtual ray trajectories, which can
be measured experimentally. Ray paths deviate towards an increase in the index
of refraction. Radio waves propagating in the lower ionosphere have a ray path
that deviates towards the Earth; during the propagation of these waves through
the upper ionosphere, the ray path deviates in the opposite direction.
The variation of the frequency fluctuations is one of the important spectral char-
acteristics specified for nonstationary media. It determines the broadening of the
temporal spectrum in the turbulent plasma and can be found by measurements of
the phase. Applying equation (2.2) in the first order approximation, the frequency
fluctuation satisfies the stochastic transport differential equation:
∂ω1 q0 ∂ω1 ∂n1
+ (1 + iψ0 ) = −k0 (ψ1 + iψ2 ) (2.3)
∂y c ∂t ∂t
where: q0 = N0 + ω0 ∂N0 /∂ω, ψ0 = (N1 + ω0 ∂N1 /∂ω0 )/q0 , ψ1 = ∂N0 /∂n0 ,
ψ2 = ∂N1 /∂n0 ;
     
1 Γ0 ∂Γ0 1 ∂Γ1 1 Γ0 ∂Γ0 1 ∂Γ1
ψ1 = +1 + Γ1 , ψ2 = −1 + Γ1 ,
4N0 r1 ∂n0 r1 ∂n0 4N1 r1 ∂n0 r1 ∂n0
TEMPORAL POWER SPECTRUM OF SCATTERED ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN THE EQUATORIAL TERRESTRIAL IONO

1/2 −1
r1 = Γ20 + Γ21 , Vgr = c [∂ (N ω) /∂ω] , is the group velocity of an unperturbed
wave propagating along the y-axis in a conductive collision absorptive magnetized
plasma. In the anisotropic absorbing plasma, the direction of group speed and
a wave vector cannot coincide. The energy flux of a wave propagating along the
ray path at each point coincides with the group velocity Vgr ; In the absence of
spatial dispersion, it also coincides with the direction of an average Poynting vector.
However, the conductivity of plasma can lead to the opposite directions of the
Poynting’s vector and the wave vector, and, hence, the group velocity will become
negative.
For the solution of equation (2.3) we will apply the Fourier transform
Z∞
ω1 (r, t) = dvΩ (r, ν) exp (iνt)
−∞

We suppose that randomly varying electron density irregularities having charac-

teristic spatial scale l are located in the slab 0 < y < L and the fluctuations of
the wave parameters are absent at y < 0 at the observation point beyond the slab
y > L we obtain:
hν i
Ω (ρ⊥ , y, ν) = k0 ν (ψ2 − iψ1 ) exp q0 (ψ0 − i) y
c
ZL hν i
· dζn1 (ρ⊥ , ζ, ν) exp q0 (−ψ0 + i) ζ (2.4)
c
0

here ρ⊥ = {x, z} It is evident that the instantaneous local frequency randomly

varies in space and time, while these fluctuations at the observation point r and
the moment t are created due to multiple interaction of a wave with all irregu-
larities laying on a path of wavy perturbations, and are determined by chaotic
electron density fluctuations at the time moments when wavy perturbations pass
through them with a group velocity Vgr = c(1 − iψ0 )/q0 . Electronic density varies
randomly with both position and time. Nonstationarity is caused by the move-
ment of a plasma stream and temporal pulsations of electron density fluctuations.
The monochromatic waves scattered by electron density fluctuations become non-
monochromatic. Spectral lines become broad. Generally, waves having a complex
spectral structure continuously change the spectrum. In experiments observing the
scattering of electromagnetic waves with different frequencies, the receiving signal
has a Doppler shift and a widened spectrum. They are caused by the convection of
scattered irregularities and temporal fluctuations of electron density.
Second order statistical moments of the frequency fluctuation of scattered elec-
tromagnetic waves in the equatorial region of the terrestrial ionosphere at L >> l
and in a weakly absorptive plasma q0 < 1 can be written as:
Z∞ Z∞

ck02
∆1 = π ψ12 + ψ22 dνν dk⊥ Wn (k⊥ , ky , ν)
q0 ψ0
−∞ −∞

    
q 0 ψ0 q0 ψ0
exp 2 yν − exp 2 (y − L) ν exp (ik⊥ ρ⊥ ) (2.5)
c c
6 G. JANDIERI1 , A. ISHIMARU2 , N. TUGUSHI3∗ AND N. MCHEDLISHVILI4

Z∞ Z∞
∆2 = πk02 L ψ12 − ψ22 dνν 2


dk⊥ Wn (k⊥ , ky , ν) exp (ik⊥ ρ⊥ ) (2.6)
−∞ −∞
where the pointed brackets indicate ensemble average, the asterisk complex conju-
gate, k⊥ = (kx , kz )
Z∞ Z∞ Z∞
1
Wn (k⊥ , ky , ν) = 4 dρ⊥ dρy dτ Vn (ρ⊥ , ρy , τ ) exp (ik⊥ ρ⊥ + iky ρy − iντ )
(2π)
−∞ −∞ −∞

is an arbitrary correlation function of electron density fluctuations, ky = νq0 /c.

The temporal spectrum is determined by the formula:
∆ = ∆1 + ∆2 (2.7)


Broadening of the temporal power spectrum ∆ ≡ ω1 /ω02 can be easily measured
2

by experiment; ∆1 ≡ ⟨ω1 ω1∗ ⟩ /2ω02 , ∆2 ≡ Re ⟨ω1 ω2 ⟩ /2ω02 . As the violation of the

field coherence in medium with large-scale irregularities is caused
by the phase
fluctuations, we can suggest that the variance of the wave frequency ω12 keeps its
sense at diffraction too. At those distances where the absorption becomes essential
second term in equation (2.6) much less the first one. The fact that violation
of coherence of the field in the media with large-scale irregularities is connected
generally with
phase
 fluctuations gives the grounds to consider that dispersion
of frequency ω12 of a wave keeps the sense and in the presence of diffraction.
Diffraction can exert the influence on variance of the frequency fluctuations only
in
Fraunhofer’s zone with respect to the spatial scale of irregularities l (at y/k0 l2 >>
1). Physically this can be explained from the fact that the waves scattered under
a big angle attenuate faster along an y axis.

3. Results
3.1. Numerical calculations. Experimental results concerning the features of
large-scale artificial plasma density irregularities induced in the ionospheric region
by high-power radio waves using the SURA heating facility were presented in [17].
Transverse scale of these irregularities l⊥ with respect to the geomagnetic field
varies from meter up to tens of kilometers. Large-scale plasma irregularities due
to electron density variation along the sight beam on the satellite can have the
sizes l|| = 30km, the drift velocity 30 ÷ 35m/s. It was revealed that heating
of ionospheric plasma by powerful radio waves causes the generation of artificial
large-scale ionospheric irregularities from several tens to one hundred kilometers,
which can influence the propagation of radio waves in different frequency bands.
Observations (Tbilisi, 410 43N) of drift small-scale irregularities in the iono-
spheric F-region show [18] that they have elliptic form, the ratio of axes basically
varies from 1 to 3. Anisotropy axis is mainly oriented along the geomagnetic field
of lines. Drift of small-scale irregularities mainly has S-W direction. The most
probable values of drift velocity are in the range of 40-100 meter/sec. Small-scale
irregularities with Gaussian spectrum are responsible for polarization fluctuations
at frequencies of 20-50 MHz.
Data obtained from spaced receiver measurements made at Kingston, Jamaica
(during the periods August 1967– January 1969 and June 1970–September 1970)
show that the irregularities between heights of 153 and 617 km causing the scin-
tillation of signals from the moving earth satellites (BE–B and BE–C) are closely
TEMPORAL POWER SPECTRUM OF SCATTERED ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN THE EQUATORIAL TERRESTRIAL IONO

aligned along the magnetic field lines in the F–region [19]. The dip angle of the ir-
regularities with respect to the field lines was within 160 . The anisotropic spectral
features in the F–region is defined for the Gaussian and power-law spectra. For
F region large scale sizes irregularities (∼ 10km) become unstable, and dissipate
their energy by generating small sized irregularities, as is the case in turbulence.
In the equatorial region the large-scale irregularities are most likely produced by
convective electric field.
We will use the spatial-temporal spectrum of electron density irregularities [20]:

σn2 l∥3
Vn (k, ν) =
16π 2 h

2 k 2 + k 2 + l2 k 2
ip/2
χ 2 1 + l⊥ x y ∥ z
!
k 2 l2 ky2 l∥2 kz2 l∥2 ν2T 2
·exp − x ⊥ − t0 − t1 − t2 (3.1)
4 4 4 4

here:

2  −1/2
2
p2 = sin2 γ0 + χ2 cos2 γ0 /χ2 , α1 = 1+η 2 l/l⊥ , l = l⊥ l∥ l⊥ sin2 γ0 + l∥2 cos2 γ0


,

1/2
η = V0 T /l∥ , G0 = [1 − η/(2α1 )] , G1 = χ2 − 1 ηsinγ0 cosγ0 /χ2 p2 ,

t20 = α0 − 1/ p2 χ2 , t1 = b0 + p2 G2 l|| /cT q0 /G20 , b0 = (G1 /α1 ) − p2 G2 G3 /G20 ,

2
t2 = c0 + p2 q02 l|| /cT /G20 , c0 = (1/α1 ) + p2 G23 /G20 , G3 = η/ (α1 p2 ) ,

G2 = χ2 − 1 sinγ0 cosγ0 / sin2 γ0 + χ2 cos2 γ0 − (ηG1 /α1 p2 ) .

Anisotropy of electron density irregularities is a result of the diffusion processes

in the ionosphere. The shape of irregularities depends on the diffusion coefficients
in the field aligned and field perpendicular directions. The ellipsoid is character-
ized with two parameters: the anisotropy factor for the irregularities the ratio of
ellipsoid axes χ = l|| /l⊥ (ratio of longitudinal and transverse linear scales of plasma
irregularities with respect to the external magnetic field); γ0 is the inclination angle
of elongated ionospheric plasmonic structures with respect to the magnetic lines of
force; T = l/V is the characteristic temporal scale of electron density fluctuations.
The drift velocity of plasma inhomogeneities exceeds the velocity of the temporal
pulsations changing their shapes. If V0 = 0 we obtain [8-10,20]. Substituting (3.1)
into equations (2.5) and (2.6) we obtain the broadening of the temporal spectrum
of scattered ordinary and extraordinary waves in the equatorial ionosphere:
Z∞
σ2
cT ξ2 1 η
∆1 = n ψ12 + ψ22 √ dη 
l|| q0 ψ0 p1 (ω0 T )2
2
8π 
4 p3
2

l∥
2
−∞ 1+ 1+ χ2 p21 cT q02 η 2
( "  2  #)
η2 l∥ p2 p2
·exp − 2
1 + 4q0 − 32
4 cT 4 p1
         
l|| L z l|| z
· exp 2q0 ψ0 η − exp 2q0 ψ0 −1 η , (3.2)
cT l|| L cT L
8 G. JANDIERI1 , A. ISHIMARU2 , N. TUGUSHI3∗ AND N. MCHEDLISHVILI4

σn2 ξ2 L
ψ12 − ψ22


∆2 = 2√
4 l
χ (ω0 T ) p1 ∥
Z∞
η2
 2
η
· dη  2 exp − (3.3)

4 p3
2

l∥
2 4
−∞ 1+ 1+ χ2 p21 cT q02 η 2

From the obtained result follow, that when dumping is small on the wavelength, but
it is rather big on all length of the distance passed by a wave, frequency fluctuations
grow much faster, than in the similar medium without absorption [15,16]. This
growth continues outside the layer containing irregularities (at y > L ). It is
essential to note that statistical moment (9) does not depend on a sign of the
parameter ψ0 , i.e., the obtained results are valid for both absorbing, and an active
media. The reason for this effect is that frequency perturbations in a medium with a
complex refractive index are not only transferred along Y axes with a group velocity
[16], but also amplify. Obviously, a similar effect will take place in a homogeneous
medium with a complex refractive index for an incident frequency-modulated wave.
The modulator in our case is a turbulent plasma layer.
Numerical calculations are carried out for an incident wave with frequency 3
MHz. Figure 1 (a) depict the broadening of the temporal spectrum E-wave as a
function of the temporal parameter ν0 /ω0 . In the plasma slab y/L = 0.5 varying
anisotropic factor in the interval 3 ⩽ χ ⩽ 10, at γ0 = 50 , spectrum broadens three
times and its maximum is displaced to the left two times. Out of the slab varying
parameter in the interval 1 ⩽ (y/L) ⩽ 20 broadening of the spectrum increases five
times and its maximum is displaced to the left two times. Numerical calculations
show, that for O-wave at χ = 7 and γ0 = 80 , in the space interval 9 ⩽ (y/L) ⩽ 11
broadening of the spectrum increase six time and maximum slightly change.
Figure 1 (b) shows plots of the temporal power spectrum of a scattered E-wave
in the equatorial region of the conductive magnetized turbulent plasma for the
different inclination angle 10 ⩽ γ0 ⩽ 90 of elongated electron density irregularities
with respect to the geomagnetic lines of forces.

Figure 1: The broadening of the temporal spectrum and shift of its maximum for
E-wave vs dimensionless frequency and distance parameters.
TEMPORAL POWER SPECTRUM OF SCATTERED ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN THE EQUATORIAL TERRESTRIAL IONO

Figure 1 (a) illustrates the evaluation of the temporal spectrum for different
anisotropy factor”.
Figure 1 (b) illustrates the evaluation of the temporal spectrum for different in-
clination angle of elongated ionospheric plasmonic structures with respect to the
magnetic lines of force.
Varying anisotropy factor in the interval 3 ⩽ χ ⩽ 12 spectrum broadens slightly;
particularly, at χ = 3 spectrum maximum displaces to the left seven times, at χ = 6
is displaced 16 times, at χ = 9 - ten times.

Figure 2: The broadening of the temporal spectrum at different anisotropy factors

for E-wave.
Figure 2 (a) illustrates the evaluation of the temporal spectrum for different
anisotropy factor
Figure 2 (b) illustrates the evaluation of the temporal spectrum for different
anisotropy factor
Analyses show that at 2 ⩽ χ ⩽ 14 and γ0 = 40 the spectrum broadens six
times and its maximum shifts to the left four times. Figure 2 (b) illustrates the
behavior of the spectrum for different anisotropy factor. Analyses show that varying
anisotropic parameter in the interval 3 ⩽ χ ⩽ 18 maximum, broadening of the
spectrum increases and maximum of the spectrum shifts to the left.

Figure 3: Evaluation of the temporal spectrum as a function of dimensionless dis-

tance parameter for O-wave.
10 G. JANDIERI1 , A. ISHIMARU2 , N. TUGUSHI3∗ AND N. MCHEDLISHVILI4

Figure 3 (a) illustrates the evaluation of the temporal spectrum for different in-
clination angle of elongated ionospheric plasmonic structures with respect to the
magnetic lines of force.
Figure 3 (b) illustrates the evaluation of the temporal spectrum for different
anisotropy factor
Curves describing the broadening of the temporal spectrum of O-wave in the
turbulent ionospheric plasma at anisotropy coefficient χ = 3 varying distance 0 ⩽
(y/L) ⩽ 10.5 are plotted in Fig. 3 (a). Numerical calculations show that at γ0 = 170
two humps arise; broadening of the first hump is very small. At γ0 = 190 these
humps have the same widths. Increasing the inclination angle up to γ0 = 210 the
second hump is disappeared. The same behavior of the curves is observed at χ = 6,
but the broadening of a second curve becomes substantially small at γ0 = 90 Figure
3 (b) illustrates the broadening and shift of the spectrum maximum of O-wave at
γ0 = 30 at different anisotropy factor 15 ⩽ χ ⩽ 17 Numerical calculation show
that two hums arise at χ = 14 and disappeared at χ = 17. Similar to the previous
case, increasing tilt angle γ0 the humps in the temporal spectrum arise at small
anisotropy factor and the evaluation of the spectrum is the same.

4. Conclusion
Analytical calculations and numerical simulations of the temporal spectrum
of scattered electromagnetic waves propagating in the equatorial ionosphere were
carried out. For the first time, the index of refraction for this region of the ter-
restrial atmosphere has been obtained. Statistical characteristics of the temporal
spectrum (broadening and displacement of its maximum) of scattered ordinary and
extraordinary electromagnetic waves propagating in the conductive collision mag-
netized plasma are investigated in the geometrical optics approximation using the
stochastic transport equation for the frequency fluctuation.
Second order statistical moments: correlation function and the variance of the
frequency fluctuations, characterizing the broadening of the temporal spectrum
and the shift of its maximum, have been obtained for the arbitrary anisotropic
correlation function of electron density fluctuations.
Numerical calculations are carried out for the anisotropic Gaussian spatial-
temporal spectrum of electron density fluctuations containing anisotropic parame-
ters characterizing turbulent ionospheric plasma: external magnetic field, plasma
velocity, anisotropy factor, and inclination angle of elongated plasmonic structures
with respect to the lines of force of the geomagnetic field. Investigation shows that
the anisotropy factor and the inclination angle of elongated plasmonic structures
have a substantial influence on the broadening of the temporal power spectrum and
the shift of the maximum of scattered O-and E-waves in the equatorial ionosphere.
A new double humped effect has been revealed to arise in the temporal spectrum
of scattered O-wave in the equatorial region and it is absent for E-wave. This effect
is not observed in the polar ionosphere. Diffraction effects have the greatest influ-
ence on the variance of the frequency in the nonstationary plasma at longitudinal
propagation, when the absorption is essential.
Measurements of the statistical characteristics of scattered electromagnetic waves
by satellite, ground-based radar systems, or meteorological-ionospheric stations give
information about ionospheric plasma irregularities. Relevance of a research is de-
fined by active use of electromagnetic waves of short-wave band in the antenna
TEMPORAL POWER SPECTRUM OF SCATTERED ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN THE EQUATORIAL TERRESTRIAL IONO

equipment, for providing a long-distance radio communication, radio navigation, a

radar-location, and also studying of structure of an ionosphere - the upper atmo-
sphere of Earth by methods of remote sensing and a radio tomography.

Acknowledgement
This work was supported by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of
Georgia (SRNSFG), grant NFR-21-316 “Investigation of the statistical character-
istics of scattered electromagnetic waves in the terrestrial atmosphere and applica-
tion”.
ORCID IDs George Jandieri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8497-8107

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(Received ??.??.20??)
1 International Space Agency Georgian Society, GTU, Tbilisi, Georgia
2 Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
3 Department of Physics, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
4 Department of Control System, Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Email address: [email protected]
Email address: [email protected]
Email address: [email protected]
Email address: [email protected]