Density fluctuations in a plasma in a magnetic field, with applications to the ionosphere

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ066i006p01699· OSTI ID:4004233

Hagfors, Tor

General expressions are developed for the fiuctuation in density of electrons, ions, and charge in a plasma in thermal equilibrium in an external magnetic field taking only Coulomb interaction into account. The spectral distribution of the spatial Fourier components of these fluctuations is derived from basic principles. The fluctuations in electron density are discussed in some detail, and spectra sre computed under conditions that are thought to prevail in the outer ionosphere. Frequency spectra of general validity are computed for electron-density fluctuations along the magnetic field. It is shown that the frequency spectra under ionospheric conditions are little influenced by the magnetic field except for density fluctuations fairly close to perpendicularity to the magnetic field. Applications to incoherent backscattering are discussed, snd under suitable conditions, backscatter techniques can give valuable information about electron density, temperature, and constituents of the ionosphere. (auth)

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., Calif.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-15-019650
• OSTI ID: 4004233
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 66; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONFIGURATION
DENSITY
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRONS
EQUATIONS
FREQUENCY
GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, AND METEOROLOGY
INTERACTIONS
IONOSPHERE
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
SCATTERING
SPECTRA
STABILITY
TEMPERATURE
VARIATIONS