Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Computer simulation of gradient drift instability processes in operation Avefria. Memorandum report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5460853
Numerically, equations of motion are solved for the evolution of a one-level, two-dimensional F region ionospheric plasma cloud with five different ratios of cloud to background integrated Pedersen conductivity. The simulations show that (1) physically small clouds striate due to the gradient drift instability more rapidly than large clouds, and (2) there exists a minimum striation onset time as a function of the Pedersen conductivity ratio. Observation (1) is in agreement with the rapid striation development exhibited by the physically small Avefria barium cloud releases, relative to the large Secede or STRESS type releases.
Research Organization:
Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
5460853
Report Number(s):
AD-A-077668/2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English