- Magneto-ionic double refraction
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In telecommunication, magneto-ionic double refraction is 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 orinary wave and extra-ordinary wave.
The component waves follow different paths, experience different attenuations, have different phase velocities, and, in general, are elliptically polarized in opposite senses.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the General Services Administration document "Federal Standard 1037C".
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