Generating a lattice of density variations by heating the F region of the ionosphere with high-power radio waves
A nonlinear theory is presented for the thermal parametric instability that develops in the F region of the ionosphere under the action of high-power radio waves. In the equations, which describe the evolution of ionospheric plasma density variations extremely elongated in the direction parallel to the geomagnetic field, low-frequency nonlinearities are retained. The resulting equations are studied in the Fourier representation. The conditions are found under which a steady state can develop as a result of the three-wave interaction. Cases are considered in which it is important to treat the influence of the external electric field in the ionospheric plasma and in which the field is negligible. The saturation amplitudes and the spectra of the variations are found. It is shown that time-independent irregularities produced by triads of waves form a periodic lattice moving with the drift velocity due to the electric field and the ion temperature. 31 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 105413
- Journal Information:
- Plasma Physics Reports, Vol. 19, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1993; TN: Translated from Fiz. Plazmy; 19, 1209-1219(Oct 1993)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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