Group Refractive Index for Radio Wave Propagation through the Ionosphere over Rio de Janeiro (South America)

Abstract

riations of the group refractive index of the ionosphere over Rio de Janeiro (South America) with the electron-density, in respect of wave frequencies 10, 3 and 1 MHz have been investigated for the same values of electron collisional frequency as in the case of Calcutta [Deb, K. K., <i>Indian J. Phys., </i> 47 (1973),94]. Variations of phase refractive index, absorption index and group refractive index in these two stations, with almost same latitude but situated in two hemispheres of earth, are compared. It is observed that these two stations show similarities in the ionospheric parameters considered except for the case of low electron density, wherein the extraordinary phase of the refractive index shows dissimilar behaviour at the two stations.