Effects of electron heating on the current driven electrostatic ion cyclotron instability and plasma transport processes along auroral field lines

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL015i011p01291· OSTI ID:6740101

Ganguli, S B; Palmadesso, P J; Mitchell, H G

Fluid simulations of the plasma along auroral field lines in the return current tregion have been performed to show that the onset of electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) related anomalous resistivity and the consequent heating of electrons leads to much higher transverse ion temperature than the current driven EIC instability (CDICI) alone would produce. Anomalous resistivity enhances ion heating in two ways: (1) by inhibiting the growth of critical electron-ion drift velocity, V/sub c//sub H/, which must be exceeded to excite the EIC instability and (2) by increasing the relative drift velocity between the electrons and the ions, V/sub D/, through the formation of density cavities due to increased ambipolar electric field. The anomalous resistivity associated with the turbulence is limited by electron heating, so that CDICI eventually saturates, but at a substantially higher transverse teperature than would be the case in the absence of resistivity. This process demonstrates a positive feedback loop in the interaction between CDICI, anomalous resistivity, and parallel large scale dynamics in the topside ionosphere. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988

• Research Organization: Science Applications International Corporation, Mclean, VA
• OSTI ID: 6740101
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 15:11; 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 PARTICLES
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
HYDROGEN IONS
ICR HEATING
ION TEMPERATURE
IONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
OXYGEN IONS
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA SIMULATION
SIMULATION