Multiple phase screen calculation of two‐way spherical wave propagation in the ionosphere

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical solution to the parabolic wave equation for spherical wave propagation in a disturbed ionosphere. The solution uses the Fourier/split step approach where the propagation medium is modeled using multiple phase-changing screens separated by free space. The phase screens can consist of deterministic or random components describing spatial scales of any size. This solution consists of realizations of the signal (i.e., the ionospheric transfer function) after two-way propagation from a transmitter, through the medium to a target, and back. The transmitter and target can be comprised of multiple, independent point scatterers. The solution is applicable to many propagation problems including synthetic aperture radar and is not subject to the small-scene limitation, where all scatterers in the scene experience identical propagation conditions. Several examples are given illustrating some features of the solution including reciprocity, relationship between one-and two-way (monostatic and bistatic) scintillation index, and reflection from a large target.

Statistical Analysis of Refractive and Diffractive Scintillation at High Latitudes

“…The combination of these effects induces phase and amplitude scintillation on the signal which is realized as interference at the receiver. It is well known that ionospheric scintillation can severely impact the performance of space‐ and ground‐based radar, communication, and navigation systems (Basu et al., 2002; Carrano, Groves, & Caton, 2012; Humphreys et al., 2009; Kintner et al., 2007; Knepp, 2016; Knepp & Reinking, 1989). As arctic warming increases navigability in the polar latitudes (Marchenko, 2014), the impact of scintillation on GNSS signals in these regions is an area of increasing importance.…”

Ionospheric Scintillation Data Inversion to Characterize the Structures Associated With a Series of Polar Cap Patches

“…The combination of these effects can induce random amplitude and phase fluctuations on a signal, otherwise known as scintillation, which can affect the ability of a receiver to close a link in the case of amplitude scintillation, or from reconstructing data symbols/bits in the case of phase scintillation. It is well known that ionospheric scintillation can severely impact the performance of space‐ and ground‐based radar, communication, and navigation systems (Basu et al., 2002; Carrano, Groves et al., 2012; Humphreys et al., 2009; Kintner et al., 2007; Knepp, 2016; Knepp & Reinking, 1989). As arctic warming increases navigability in the polar latitudes (Marchenko, 2014), the impact of scintillation on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals in these regions is an area of increasing importance.…”

Extension of Hybrid Scintillation Propagation Model to the case of field propagation in the ionosphere with highly anisotropic irregularities

“…According to our knowledge, no analytical techniques capable of describing this particular case still exist. However, this can likely be done by employing the numerical technique of the multiple‐phase screens [see, e.g., Knepp , ].…”