The effects of the ion acoustic decay instability on microwave-plasma interactions

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA02p01537· OSTI ID:5839372

De Groot, J S; Mizuno, K ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Davis (USA)

Laboratory measurements are presented that show the ion acoustic decay instability strongly effects p-polarized microwave-plasma interactions. It is shown that the ion acoustic decay instability is only weakly excited if the unperturbed density profile is relatively steep. Only suprathermal (hot) electrons are heated due to resonance absorption. For a relatively shallow density profile, the ion acoustic decay instability is strongly excited in the underdense region near the critical surface. In this case, suprathermal electrons traveling both up and down the density profile are heated due to the electron waves driven by the ion acoustic decay instability. This additional heating results in a higher return current of thermal electrons. This current of thermal electrons must flow through the turbulent region so the thermal electrons are strongly heated due to anomalous dc resistivity. In addition, a strong dc electric field is driven in the turbulent region to maintain the required return current. These measurements can guide their understanding of the effect of strongly driven ion acoustic decay instability on microwave-plasma interactions in the ionosphere.

• OSTI ID: 5839372
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 94:A2; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DECAY INSTABILITY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HEATING
INSTABILITY
INTERACTIONS
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVE INSTABILITY
ION WAVES
IONOSPHERE
LEPTONS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATIONS