High frequency drift waves with wavelengths below the ion gyroradius in equatorial spread F. Interim report

Technical Report · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6352674

Huba, J D; Chaturvedi, P K; Ossakow, S L; Towle, D M

Evidence is given for intense VHF and UHF radar backscatter during equatorial Spread F resulting from irregularities of 1 meter and 36 cm, respectively. The linear theory for high frequency drift waves, generated by the drift-cyclotron and lower-hybrid-drift instabilities, is presented. This linear theory is set forth as a possible explanation for the occurrence of these irregularities below the ion gyroradius. The maximum growth for these instabilities occurs for kr/sub e/ approximately 1, where k is the wavenumber perpendicular to the magnetic field and r/sub e/ is the electron gyroradius. For typical equatorial Spread F ionospheric parameters, the lower-hybrid-drift instability is dominant.

• Research Organization: Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6352674
• Report Number(s): AD-A-058246
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACKSCATTERING
CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY
DISTURBANCES
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EQUATOR
F REGION
FREQUENCY RANGE
GHZ RANGE
GHZ RANGE 01-100
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
IONOSPHERE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MHZ RANGE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
SCATTERING
SPREAD F