[R-390] OT: Antenna question

Thu, 19 Dec 2002 10:36:59 -0800

Hey.
We didn't want a serious answer.
But the truth is stranger than fiction. It would only get better if you did
the engineer's hand waving dance to illustrate. Can you give us the
equivalent in ASCII?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 10:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [R-390] OT: Antenna question

The Polarization of Ionospheric Waves is a Function of Magnetic Latitude.

A wave entering the ionosphere typically separates into two waves because
of the interaction of the free electrons in the ionosphere and the earth's
magnetic field.  The two waves are called the ordinary (o-) and the
extraordinary (x-) waves. When the direction of propagation is along or
parallel to the earth's magnetic field, the two waves are circularly
polarized, in opposite senses. When the direction of propagation is
transverse to the earth's magnetic field, the electric field of the o-
wave is polarized parallel to the earth's magnetic field and the electric
field of the x- wave is polarized perpendicular to the earth's magnetic
field. In the splitting of the two waves the MOF of the x- wave is
typically higher than the MOF of the o- wave. In general the o- wave is
the dominate wave having less attenuation through the ionosphere compared
to the x- wave.

In the Northern Magnetic Latitude the o- wave travels up from the
transmitter in a right hand elliptical polarization (REP) mode and arrives
down to the receiver in a left hand elliptical polarization (LEP) mode and
is typically the strongest wave. The x- wave  travels up from the
transmitter in the LEP mode and arrives down to the receiver in the REP
mode.

At the Magnetic Equator the o- wave is linearly polarized along the
magnetic NS for a wave travelling up or down (transmit or receive). The
linear polarization for the x- wave is along the magnetic EW for a wave
travelling up or down (transmit or receive).

In the Southern Magnetic Latitude the o- wave travels up from the
transmitter in the LEP mode and arrives down to the receiver in the REP
mode and again is typically the strongest wave. The x- wave  travels up
from the transmitter in the REP mode and arrives down to the receiver in
the LEP mode.

RICH  @B> }
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