Calculation of Ray Paths in the Ionosphere Using an Analytic Raytracing Technique

A method for tracing rays in the ionosphere using analytic solutions to approximate path varying ionospheric potentials is outlined in this report. Using the ionospheric parameters generated by IONCAP and approximating the E-F2 and ground-E layer potential wells by a scaled Morse potential and a linear potential respectively, known solutions to these potentials are promoted to final ray paths by using methods developed for solving the time dependent Schroedinger equation. The computer code necessary to fit the potentials, connect the solutions at the E layer peak, and trace arbitrarily launched rays is described. Keywords include: Ray tracing; Ionosphere; Potential well; Ducted propagation; High frequency; Paraxail approximation; Parabolic approximation; Scalar wave equation.