magneto-ionic double refraction

magneto-ionic double refraction: The combined effect of the Earth's magnetic field and atmospheric ionization, whereby a linearly polarized wave entering the ionosphere is split into two components called the ordinary wave and the extraordinary wave. Note: The component waves follow different paths, experience different attenuations, have different phase velocities, and, in general, are elliptically polarized in opposite senses.

This HTML version of Telecom Glossary 2K was last generated on Wed May 8 15:36:48 DT 2002.