A study of the high latitude ionosphere using a digital spread spectrum ionospheric sounder

The authors report on results obtained with an experimental ionospheric sounder which has been operated over two paths influenced by the auroral ionosphere. The aims of the study are: to obtain a statistical description of the ionosphere around solar maximum. The database should cover several years centered on 1990; to study the dependence of the availability of the ionospheric channel on geophysical disturbances; to compare the experimental results with ionospheric models, as represented by the prediction codes using IONCAP; and to study the capabilities of the ionospheric channel to carry a broadband signal with a complex digital modulation