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Parallel current effects on auroral E-region plasma instabilities. Interim report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6903291
Consider the effect of a field-aligned current on the development of plasma instabilities in the auroral electrojet. It is found that the inclusion of the parallel current modifies the threshold criteria for the onset of the Farley Buneman instability, and may cause excitation of oblique ion sound waves. Appling these results to the auroral E region, it is shown that they explain some observations of auroral irregularities, e.g., the presence of type I irregularities for subthreshold conditions (when the electron Hall drift is less than the ion-sound speed), and the observation of irregularities not highly field-aligned.
Research Organization:
Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
6903291
Report Number(s):
AD-A-172906/0/XAB; NRL-MR-5847
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English