Nonlinear physics of the ionosphere and LOIS/LOFAR

TL;DR

This paper explores the nonlinear physics of the ionosphere, focusing on electromagnetic turbulence, structure formation, and a novel diagnostic technique using vector radio to study plasma turbulence remotely.

Contribution

It introduces a new diagnostic method based on vector radio and electromagnetic angular momentum to analyze plasma turbulence in the ionosphere.

Findings

Demonstrated the potential of vector radio for remote plasma diagnostics

Identified signatures of electromagnetic turbulence and structure formation

Proposed a new approach to study energy and momentum exchange in plasma

Abstract

The ionosphere is the only large-scale plasma laboratory without walls that we have direct access to. From results obtained in systematic, repeatable experiments in this natural laboratory, where we can vary the stimulus and observe its response in a controlled, repeatable manner, we can draw conclusions on similar physical processes occurring naturally in the Earth's plasma environment as well as in parts of the plasma universe that are not easily accessible to direct probing. Of particular interest is electromagnetic turbulence excited in the ionosphere by beams of particles (photons, electrons) and its manifestation in terms of secondary radiation (electrostatic and electromagnetic waves), structure formation (solitons, cavitons, alfveons, striations), and the associated exchange of energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum. We present a new diagnostic technique, based on vector radio allowing the utilization of EM angular momentum (vorticity), to study plasma turbulence remotely.