Spatial power spectrum of the E x B gradient drift instability in ionospheric plasma clouds

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA086iA08p06947· OSTI ID:5881141

Keskinen, M J; Ossakow, S L

Conservation laws, implied by the fundamental plasma fluid equations describing the E x B gradient drift instability in ionospheric plasma clouds, are utilized to obtain an analytic prescription for the power spectrum. Furthermore, it is shown that the two-dimensional power law power spectra of magnetic field line integrated Pedersen conductivity (density) perturbations, in the plane perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field, computed from numerical simulation studies and experimental results are supported by an analysis of these conservation laws. The numerical simulations suggest a two-dimensional power spectrum of the form P(k,theta) = P/sub 0/cos/sup m/theta(1+(k/k/sub 0/)/sup 2/)/sup( -n/+1)/2, where cos theta = kxE/sub 0/ and E/sub 0/ is the ambient electric field. The present analytic formulation suggests 1

• Research Organization: Geophysical and Plasma Dynamics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C. 20375
• OSTI ID: 5881141
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 86:A8; 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
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
FUNCTIONS
INSTABILITY
IONOSPHERE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
SPECTRAL DENSITY
SPECTRAL FUNCTIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS