Propagation of whistler mode waves through the ionosphere

We present results from numerical studies of whistler mode wave propagation in the Earth's ionosphere when artificially created plasma ducts are present. Using realistic density profiles from the SAMI2 ionospheric code, we solve the two-dimensional electron magnetohydrodynamics equations to study the trans-ionospheric propagation of artificially generated whistler waves at HAARP latitudes (L = 4.9). Both ducted and non-ducted propagation is considered, but only ducted whistlers are able to propagate without a significant reduction in wave amplitude. The conditions necessary for the trapping of waves in both high-and low-density ducts are discussed with particular attention paid to the practical accessibility of these parameter regimes.