Numerical Detailing of the Mechanism Responsible for Artificial Heating of the Ionosphere by Powerful High Frequency Radio Waves

The effect of a standing high-power high-frequency radio wave on the behavior of the F-layer ionospheric plasma is numerically investigated with the help of the mathematical model, developed earlier in the Polar Geophysical Institute. The mathematical model is based on a numerical solution of the Vlasov-Poisson system of equations by using the macro-particle method. The results of model simulations indicate that a presence of a standing high-power high-frequency radio wave ought to influence significantly on the behavior of the bulk flow velocities of electrons and positive ions, with considerable differences between mentioned velocities taking place at the levels of the wave’s loops, whereas, mentioned velocities being equal and negligible at the levels of the nodal points. As a consequence of the different behavior of the bulk flow velocities of electrons and positive ions, intensive heating of the F-layer ionospheric plasma ought to arise at the levels of the loops of a wave. On the contrary, at the levels of the nodal points, the ionospheric plasma ought to stay undisturbed.