Lower hybrid dissipative cavitons and ion heating in the auroral ionosphere

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.870976· OSTI ID:168241

Shapiro, V D ^[1]; Soloviev, G I ^[2]; Dawson, J M ^[3]; Bingham, R ^[4]

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1. California Space Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)
2. Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Science, 117810, Moscow (Russian Federation)
3. University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024 (United States)
4. Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX110QX (United Kingdom)

In this paper numerical solutions of Zakharov-type equations for lower-hybrid (LH) waves, including pumping at the long wavelengths and dissipation at short wavelengths in the form of dissipative cavitons are described. The caviton is a quasistationary structure undergoing many sequences of collapse due to dissipation, created by ion--wave interactions, which is compensated for by constant pump action. The possibility of trapping of short-wavelength LH oscillations by much broader density cavitons is investigated both analytically and numerically. Analytic self-similar solutions corresponding to collapse of such cavitons are constructed and demonstrate cascading to shorter wavelengths, which develops faster than the three-dimensional (3-D) quasiclassical cavity contraction. Numerical solutions show the development of deep caviton modulation due to the instability of quasiclassical collapse. Results of the numerical and analytical investigation are used to explain the recent observations of cavity formation in the auroral ionosphere, and show that the measured structures could indeed arise from quasiclassical LH collapse. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

• OSTI ID: 168241
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 2; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AURORAL ZONES
ELECTRONS
IONOSPHERE
LOWER HYBRID HEATING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA WAVES
PROTONS
SOLAR WIND