Floating Measurements In Relation to a New Laboratory Ionospheric Simulator (Ionospektroskop)

Abstract

Due to the fact that the ionosphere can affect the passage of radio waves, it plays a very important role as a part of the atmosphere. The ionosphere contains different ionized regions (D region, E region, F1 and F2 region). Each region has its own properties and shows distinct influence on the entering radio signals. The importance of the ionosphere is represented by its utilization for communication systems and its effect on satellite communications and navigation systems. There are different kinds of techniques for studying the ionosphere (Ionosonde, incoherent scatter radar, beacons, in situ measurements, etc.) that provide valuable information about the ionosphere. Because the ionosphere has a dynamic and direct response to solar activities, the patches of ionization in the ionosphere are irregular. As a consequence, ionosphere is greatly variable and quite random in its effects. With the help of a new laboratory ionospheric simulator (a so called Ionospektroskop) close studying and investigation of the characteristics of the ionosphere become possible. Ionosphere-like plasma created by the Ionospektroskop has a similar characteristic (no earth connection and no reference point) as the ionosphere holds. In order to investigate this kind of free-floating plasma, a measuring technique called floating measurement is required. With the help of the configuration of the Ionospektroskop and based on this kind of measuring technique, measuring the electrical properties (such as voltage) of the free-floating plasma gets easier. In this paper, an example of a floating measurement related to the Ionospektroskop is given.