Nonlinear stabilization of the current convective instability in the diffuse aurora

Journal Article · Fri Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1979 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL006i012p00957· OSTI ID:5555916

Chaturvedi, P K; Ossakow, S L

The current convective instability has recently been proposed as a possible mechanism for generating large scale irregularities in the auroral F region, driven by weak field-aligned currents associated with the diffuse aurora and a plasma density gradient. In this report, we show that this instability can stabilize nonlinearly by generating linearly damped harmonics. An estimate of the saturated amplitudes shows good agreement with the available experimental data. In addition, with a northward plasma density gradient, the dominant nonlinear harmonic is in the northward direction, in agreement with DNA Wideband satellite observations.

• Research Organization: University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
• OSTI ID: 5555916
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 6:12; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CONVECTIVE INSTABILITIES
CURRENTS
DAMPING
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
F REGION
INSTABILITY
IONOSPHERE
IONOSPHERIC STORMS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY