Introduction 139
1. Plasma in a Homogeneous Electric Field (Elementary Theory) 141
1.1. Electron Current. Dielectric Permittivity and Conductance of Plasma 141
1.2. Electron Temperature 143
2. Plasma in Homogeneous Electric Fields (Kinetic Theory) 147
2.1. Kinetic Equation 147
2.2. Transformation of the Collision Integral 150
a) Elastic Collisions with Neutral Particles (Molecules) 150
b) Inelastic Collisions with Neutral Particles 152
c) Collisions with Ions 153
d) Collisions between Electrons 154
2.3. Solution of Kinetic Equation. Stronglyionized Plasma 155
a) Distribution Function (Maxwellian Distribution) 156
b) Effective Number of Collisions 158
c) Relative Fraction of Energy Transfer 158
d) Electron Current. Dielectric Permittivity and Conductance of Plasma 159
e) Electron Temperature 162
2.4. Weakly-ionized Plasma 163
a) Case of Elastic Collisions 163
b) Molecular Plasma 164
c) Inert Gases 165
d) Electron Current and Average Electron Energy 166
2.5. Arbitrary Degree of Ionization. Elementary Theory 166
a) Transition for Strongly-ionized to Weakly-ionized Plasma 166
b) Conditions of Validity of Elementary Theory 168
3. Nonlinear Effect in the Propagation of Radio Waves in a Plasma (Ionosphere)
3.1. Propagation of a Radio Wave in a Plasma with Allowance for Nonlinearity (Self Action of the Plasma)
3.2. Role of Self Action of a Plasma in the Propagation of Waves in the Ionosphere
a) Short Waves (λ≤ 200 m; ω ≥ 10⁷).
b) Average Waves (200 < λ < 2000 m; 10⁶ < ω < 10⁷).
c) Long Waves (λ> 2000 m; ω < 10⁶).
d) Resonant Self-remodulation near the Gyro Frequency
3.3. Nonlinear Interaction of Modulated Radio Waves (Cross Modulation),
a) Cross Modulation in Isotropic Plasma,
b) Calculation of the Effect of a Permanent Magnetic Field. Resonant Effects near the Gyro Frequency
3.4. Results of Experimental Investigations of Cross Modulation in the Ionosphere.
a) Absolute Value of Depth of Cross Modulation,
b) Dependence of μ_Ω and Φ_Ω on μ₀ and Ω,
c) Dependence of μ_Ω on the Power of the Interfering Station,
d) Dependence of μ_Ω on the Frequencies ω₁ and ω₂.
e) Resonance of Cross Modulation at ω₁ ~ ω_H.
3.5. Nonlinear Interaction of Unmodulated Radio Waves,
a) Variation of Conditions of Wave Propagation,
b) "Sideband" Waves (Waves with Combination Frequencies).
c) Nonlinear Effects Connected with Variation of the Electron Concentration
Concluding Remarks
Literature Cited