Numerical Simulation of Ionospheric Disturbance Generated by Ballistic Missile

Abstract

To provide theoretical guidance for the detection of ballistic missiles by skywave over-the-horizon radar, this paper first analyses the best way to detect ballistic missiles based on the rocket detection mechanism. Then using the diffusion model, chemical reaction model, and plasma diffusion model of neutral gas in the ionosphere, this paper studies the distribution of electrons and analyses the disturbance effect on the ionosphere caused by the release of ballistic missile exhaust plume in the ionosphere. Moreover, this paper considers the flight speed of the ballistic missile and the flow of the exhaust plume. Then the effects of different seasons, locations, and time zones on the release are compared. The results show that H2O can effectively dissipate background electrons to form spindle-shaped holes after release in the ionosphere. The height of the cavity radius corresponds to the peak of electron density of the background ionosphere, and the daytime dissipation is stronger than the nighttime dissipation, dissipation at low latitude is stronger than that at high latitude, and the seasonal difference is not obvious.