Value chain · CLM-0089
In plain terms
Self-focusing can only happen when the ionosphere is dense enough. At 2.45 GHz, with an assumed growth length of 25 km, that means roughly the denser half of modelled conditions in the upper ionosphere. In the lower ionosphere it cannot happen at all.
The claim as recorded
Applying the Perkins and Goldman condition with a 25 km F-region growth length, self-focusing at 2.45 GHz requires an electron density above 2.32e11 per cubic metre and at 5.8 GHz above 5.49e11, against a modelled F-region range of 2.19e9 to 1.80e12 with a median of 2.20e11, so the instability can occur in roughly the upper half of F-region conditions at 2.45 GHz and cannot occur at all in the lower half; in the E region at 2.45 GHz the condition requires 5.80e12 per cubic metre, which exceeds real E-region densities by orders of magnitude.
Scope and limits
Depends on the growth length, which the abstract gives as approximate. A different growth length moves the critical density proportionally. It establishes when the instability can occur, not what happens when it does.
What it assumes
the 25 km and 1 km growth lengths as stated; the PyIRI modelled density range
Where it comes from
This is the project's own working, shown in full:
Solving the condition for the critical plasma frequency and converting with f_p = 8.98 sqrt(Ne). Working in CALC-011. At Ne of 2.19e9 the condition evaluates to 105.9, far above unity.
Related records
- Answers question
- QST-009 not published in this release
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-0089
CLM-0089, Energy Aperture, as of 2026-09.