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Thermodynamic effect of the ion sound instability in the ionosphere

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93JA02783· OSTI ID:121239
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
  2. Irkutsk Politechnical Institute (Russian Federation); and others
During geomagnetic disturbances when the ring current interacts intensely with the plasmasphere, the plasma of this region undergoes a strong heating due to an ion cyclotron instability. This is followed by the transfer of heat along geomagnetic field lines from the heating region to the ionosphere. One of the results of this process is the formation of a non isothermal region (in which T{sub e}>3.4 T{sub i} at ionospheric heights) caused by a rapid cooling the H{sup +} ions due to their resonant charge exchange with neutral hydrogen. Heat transfer from the top of the flux tube to the ionosphere is investigated using a hydrodynamic model for the ionosphere-plasmasphere coupling. Field-aligned currents, present in the topside ionosphere, are often accompanied by ion sound turbulence. The turbulence scatters electrons, increasing the total electron collision frequency through wave-particle effects. The influence of wave-particle interactions introduces an anomalous component to the total collision frequency, which modifies substantially the heat conduction coefficient of the plasma. As a result, the plasma is heated more intensely above than below this region of ion sound turbulence. 33 refs., 3 figs.
OSTI ID:
121239
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A4 Vol. 99; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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