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The resonance observed by topside sounders near the plasma frequency is due to oblique electrostatic-wave echoes. Under certain conditions, two simultaneous echoes of slightly different frequencies occur and produce a beat pattern. The good agreement between the observed and theoretical beat patterns is good support for the theory. Furthermore, this beat pattern depends on electron temperature, and provides a new method of measuring it. The possibility of continuous and accurate electron temperature measurement suggests sounder experiments designed to observe the individual electrostatic-wave echoes.
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Warnock et al. (1970) studied this question.
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