Ionospheric imaging using computerized tomography

Abstract

Computerized tomography (CT) techniques can be used to produce a two‐dimensional image of the electron density in the ionosphere. The CT problem requires that the measured data be the line integral through the medium of the unknown parameter; transionospheric satellite beacon total electron content data recorded simultaneously at multiple ground stations fulfill this requirement. In this paper the CT problem is formulated as it applies to ionospheric imaging and limitations of the technique are investigated. Simulations are performed assuming a 1000‐km‐altitude polar‐orbiting satellite and both five and three ground stations; the results demonstrate the feasibility of this technique.