Nonlinear Phenomena in the Ionosphere

1. Introduction.- 1.1 Data on the Structure of the Ionosphere.- 1.2 Features of Nonlinear Phenomena in the Ionosphere.- 2. Plasma Kinetics in an Alternating Electric Field.- 2.1. Homogeneous Alternating Field in a Plasma (Elementary Theory).- 2.2. The Kinetic Equation.- 2.3. Electron Distribution Function.- 2.4. Ion Distribution Function.- 2.5. Action of Radio Waves on the Ionosphere.- 3. Self-Action of Plane Radio Waves.- 3.1. Simplification of Initial Equations.- 3.2. Effect of Nonlinearity on the Amplitude and Phase of the Wave.- 3.3. Change of Wave Modulation.- 3.4. Generation of Harmonic Waves and Nonlinear Detection.- 3.5. Self-Action of Radio Waves in the Lower Ionosphere.- 4. Interaction of Plane Radio Waves.- 4.1. Cross Modulation.- 4.2. Interaction of Unmodulated Waves.- 4.3. Radio Wave Interaction in the Lower Ionosphere.- 5. Self-Action and Interaction of Radio Waves in an Inhomogeneous Plasma.- 5.1. Inhomogeneous Electric Field in a Plasma.- 5.2. Kinetics of Inhomogeneous Plasma.- 5.3. Modification of the F Region of the Ionosphere by Radio Waves.- 5.4. Focusing and Defocusing of Radio Wave Beams.- 6. Excitation of Ionosphere Instability.- 6.1. Self-Focusing Instability.- 6.2. Resonant Absorption and Resonance Instability.- 6.3. Parametric Instability.