TOPSIDE RAY TRAJECTORIES NEAR UPPER HYBRID RESONANCE

Ray trajectories near the upper hybrid resonance show both similarities to and important differences with calculations near the resonance at the plasma frequency. As long as the upper hybrid frequency is less than the second harmonic of the electron cyclotron frequency, ray paths almost identical to those calculated near the plasma frequency can return energy to a satellite moving through the topside ionosphere. An additional type of ray path is also found.