Wave propagation in a random medium with anisotropic background

The effect of wave propagation in an anisotropic plasma in the presence of electron density irregularities is studied. The central approximation is the high-frequency approximation under which the Faraday effect is the important phenomenon. Expressions for mean square values of phase departure and logarithmic amplitude ratio have been derived. The theory predicts that depolarization effect of the wave may be important at 20 MHz for ionospheric experiments using satellite signals even for relatively small fluctuations in electron density. Comparisons with experimental polarimeter measurements are also made.