Nonlinear theory and experimental observations of the local collisional Rayleigh-Taylor instability in a descending equatorial spread-f ionosphere. Memorandum report
The nonlinear evolution of the local collisional Rayleigh-Taylor instability in downward-moving equatorial F layers has been studied in a coordinated theoretical and experimental program dealing with actual conditions of bottomside spread F. For ambient bottomside electron density gradient scale lengths L=8 and 25 km, we find large percentage depletions and inverse power law spatial power spectra over the intermediate wavelength range wavelength=25 m-1 km. In addition we outline a nonlinear theory of the collisional Rayleigh-Taylor instability applicable to an upward or downward moving equatorial F region ionosphere. These results represent the first definitive comparison between experiment and theory with their agreement lending further support to the belief that the collisional Rayleigh-Taylor instability is responsible for large scale size irregularities that occure under conditions of equatorial spread F.
- Research Organization:
- Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5873033
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-094723
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BUBBLES
COHERENT SCATTERING
DATA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EQUATOR
EXPERIMENT PLANNING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
F REGION
INFORMATION
INSTABILITY
IONOSPHERE
NUMERICAL DATA
OSCILLATIONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLANNING
PLASMA
RAYLEIGH SCATTERING
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
SCATTERING
SCINTILLATIONS
SPREAD F