Current convective instability in the diffuse Aurora

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL006i004p00332· OSTI ID:6215698

Ossakow, S L; Chaturvedi, P K

A stable E x B gradient drift geometry can become destabilized by a current along the magnetic field. This type of instability is generically called the current convective instability. This instability may be responsible for the diffuse auroral scintillation causing F region irregularities observed by the DNA Wideband satellite. In these phenomena the northward TEC gradient dominates the altitude electron density gradient. We have investigated a simple plasma fluid model and found that instability results for -kxV/sub d/>kx (cE/sub o//B/sub o/) (..nu../sub i//..cap omega../sub i/) where V/sub d/ is the relative drift (precipitation current) between ions and electrons along B/sub o/, E/sub o/ is the westward ambient electric field (perpendicularB/sub o/), and ..nu../sub i/ and ..cap omega../sub i/ are the F region ion-neutral collision frequency and ion gyrofrequency.

• Research Organization: Geophysical Plasma Dynamics Branch, Plasma Physics Division Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C. 20375
• OSTI ID: 6215698
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 6:4; 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
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
INSTABILITY
IONOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA INSTABILITY