THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH POWER PULSE TRANSMITTER FOR THE STUDY OF IONOSPHERIC RADIO WAVE ABSORPTION

Abstract

Attached

A new high power r.f. pulse transmitter was developed for ionospheric absorption measurements using vertical incidence pulse technique. Since the emphasis was to explore the 0 region it was designed to operate over the frequency range 1.8 MHz to 2.2 MHz. The target output power of the transmitter was 50 kW (rms) while the tested mexlrmm power was 44 kW. The absorption measurements were taken daily during a period of one month on two frequencies, 2.0 MHz and 2.2 MHz. The average noon absorption measured was 62.3 dB for 2.0 MHz and 57.9 for 2.2 MHz. In additionJ the average virtual height was 99.3 km for 2.0 MHz and 100.9 km for 2.2 MHz. The present series of ~servations made using the new r.f. pulse transmitter is in good agreement with the earlier measurements taken in Colombo during the pe~iod of 1964 to 1970 under similar solar conditions.