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Engineering topics

Booker, H. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Booker, H. G..

Electromagnetic and hydromagnetic waves in a cold magnetoplasma

The basis of the theory of waves in a cold homogeneous magnetoplasma is reviewed. The radio approximation (associated with Appleton) applies when the wave-frequency is large compared with the geometric mean of the electronic and ionic gyrofrequencies. The hydromagnetic approximation (associated with Alfven) corresponds to infinite conductivity along the lines of flux of the imposed magnetic field and applies when the wave-frequency is small compared with the plasma-frequency. The rich variety of dispersion phenomena existing in a magnetoplasma is illustrated by polar diagrams showing both the variation of group-velocity with beam-direction and the direction in which the antenna must be pointed to aim a beam in a particular direction.

Booker, H. G.↗

The role of the magnetosphere in satellite and radio-star scintillation

A theory is developed to account for the scintillation phenomenon observed in equatorial regions when using communications satellites in the SHF band. The same theory is also used qualitatively to explain strong scintillations in the VHF band. Instead of confining irregularities to a narrow interval of height in the F-region and assuming that they are strong, the alternative hypothesis is used that the irregularities are weak but extend from the F-region upwards into the magnetosphere. It is suggested that the irregularities are field-aligned and extend at least up to an L-shell of 1.3 and possibly up to 2 or more.

Booker, H. G.↗