Density irregularities in the weakly ionized nonuniform plasma

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872529· OSTI ID:544865

Karashtin, A N; Gurevich, A V; Zybin, K P ^[1]

---

1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Aeronomie, D-37191 Katlenburg-Lindau (Germany)

A rigorous theory of small disturbances in a weakly ionized nonuniform plasma in crossed electric and magnetic fields is developed. Regular inhomogeneities both of plasma density and collision frequency are taken into account. The analysis of eigenvalues and eigenmodes is performed in the electrostatic approximation. It is shown that the inhomogeneity of collision frequency is of fundamental significance, is responsible for the creation of boundary conditions, and determines the range of existence and spatial structure of eigenmodes. It is also shown that there is no localized mode associated with steep plasma density gradients. The dispersion relation and altitude behavior of eigenmodes are investigated in the WKB approximation in the case of the exponential profile of collision frequencies, which is natural for the ionospheric E-region. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 544865
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 4; ISSN 1070-664X; ISSN PHPAEN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DISPERSION RELATIONS
EIGENFUNCTIONS
EIGENVALUES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA DENSITY
WEAKLY IONIZED GASES
WKB APPROXIMATION