Progress in Numerical and Laboratory Simulations of Ionospheric Irregularities

The ionosphere contains plasma density irregularities with characteristic scales ranging from centimeters to hundreds of kilometers. These irregularities can induce rapid fluctuations, fading, and scattering in the phase and amplitude of radio waves propagating through the ionospheric medium, thereby having a significant impact on radio wave propagation characteristics. According to their latitudinal distribution, ionospheric irregularities are categorized into equatorial and low-latitude, mid-latitude, and polar types. Over the years, great progress has been achieved in both the observational and theoretical aspects of the characteristics of the ionospheric irregularities. Notably, the research group led by Professor Zuo Xiao of Peking University has carried out pioneering work in the observation, theoretical modeling, and even laboratory experiments of ionospheric irregularities. This article reviews the recent research progress made by the team of the School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China in the field of ionospheric irregularity simulations. The main topics cover numerical simulation studies of the terrestrial ionospheric irregularities at low, middle and high latitudinal zones and laboratory experiments of ionospheric plasma instabilities under partially ionized conditions. These studies systematically reveal the formation and evolution mechanisms of ionospheric irregularities in the middle and low latitudes, providing powerful tools for further investigation of related physical mechanisms.