Critical frequency

In telecommunication, the term critical frequency has the following meanings:[1]

In radio propagation by way of the ionosphere, the limiting frequency at or below which a
wave component is reflected by, and above which it penetrates through, an ionospheric
layer.
At near vertical incidence, the limiting frequency at or below which incidence, the wave
component is reflected by, and above which it penetrates through, an ionospheric layer.

Critical Frequency changes with time of day, atmospheric conditions and angle of fire of the radio waves
by antenna.

The existence of the critical frequency is the result of electron limitation, i.e., the inadequacy of the existing
number of free electrons to support reflection at higher frequencies.

In signal processing the critical frequency it is also another name for the Nyquist frequency.

Critical frequency is the highest magnitude of frequency above which the waves penetrate the ionosphere
and below which the waves are reflected back from the ionosphere. It is denoted by "fc". Its value is not
fixed and it depends upon the electron density of the ionosphere.

Equations

Critical Frequency as a Function of Electron Density

Critical frequency can be computed with the electron density given by:

where Nmax is maximum electron density per m3 and fc is in Hz.[2]

Critical Frequency as a Function of Maximum Usable Frequency Formula

Critical frequency can be computed by:

where MUF is maximum usable frequency and is the angle of incidence[2]

Relationship with Plasma Frequency

The dependence of critical frequency with respect with electron density can be related through plasma
oscillation concept particularly the 'Cold' Electrons mechanism.
Using the electron charge , electron mass
and permittivity of free space
gives,

and solving for the frequency,

Relationship with Index of Refraction

The index of refraction has the formula which shows dependence in wavelength.[3] The result that
the force due to the polarization field in an ionized gas of low concentration is canceled by the effect of
collisions between ions and electrons is re‐established in a simple manner that clearly displays the physical
basis for the effect. Because of this cancellation the Sellmeyer formula, determines the relation between the
electron number density, N, and the index of refraction, n, in the ionosphere when collisions are
neglected.[4]

Using the default values for electron charge , permittivity of free space and electron mass , and
changing angular velocity with respect to frequency this yields to

and solving for the refraction index n,

Critical Frequency and F layer of the Ionosphere

All long-distance HF Radio Communications use HF Radio signals that are obliquely
incident on the ionosphere, If the HF frequency is above Critical Frequency, the radio
signals are passing through the ionosphere at an angle instead of head-on.[5]
The Critical Frequency is changing continuously and the F layer of the Ionosphere is mostly
responsible for the reflection of radio waves back to Earth,
The other layers(D) interact in other ways - absorption of frequency and during the day, the D
Layers forms, and the F layer splits into F1 and F2 layers.
Because of changing the Ionosphere during day and night, during daytime higher frequency
bands under critical Frequency work best, but during nighttime the lower frequency bands
 work best.
The D layer is present during the day and it is a good absorber of radio waves, increasing
losses, Higher frequencies are absorbed less, so higher frequencies tends to perform better
during daytime.
The actual F2-Layer Critical Frequency Map link which refreshes every five minutes can be
seen in this website http://www.spacew.com/www/fof2.html
The Ionosphere and the Practical Maximum Usable Frequencies (MUFs) Map link which
refreshes every five minutes can be seen in this website
http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/HF_Systems/6/9/1

See also
High Frequency
High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program
High Frequency Internet Protocol
Low frequency
Radio propagation
Space weather

References
1. "Definition: critical frequency" (https://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/dir-009/_1324.htm).
www.its.bldrdoc.gov. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
2. "CF vs MUF | Difference between CF and MUF" (http://www.rfwireless-world.com/Terminolo
gy/Critical-Frequency-and-Maximum-Usable-Frequency.html). www.rfwireless-world.com.
Retrieved 2018-09-13.
3. "UCSB Science Line" (http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=3064).
scienceline.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
4. Theimer, Otto; Taylor, Leonard S. (October 1961). "On the index of refraction in the
ionosphere". Journal of Geophysical Research. 66 (10): 3157–3162.
Bibcode:1961JGR....66.3157T (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1961JGR....66.3157T).
doi:10.1029/jz066i010p03157 (https://doi.org/10.1029%2Fjz066i010p03157). ISSN 0148-
0227 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0148-0227).
5. "HF radio propagation" (http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Category/Educational/Other%20Topics/
Radio%20Communication/Intro%20to%20HF%20Radio.pdf) (PDF). Space Weather
Services. Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/C
ategory/Educational/Other%20Topics/Radio%20Communication/Intro%20to%20HF%20Rad
io.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09.

 This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C (http://www.its.bldrdoc.g
ov/fs-1037/fs-1037c.htm). General Services Administration. (in support of MIL-STD-188).

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Critical_frequency&oldid=1151595393"