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Nonlinear equatorial spread F. Memorandum report. [Numerical simulation of nonlinear evolution of collisional Rayleigh--Taylor instability]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7333741

A numerical simulation of the nonlinear evolution of the collisional Rayleigh--Taylor instability using a set of equations appropriate for the equatorial F region ionosphere has been performed. The results show that the irregularities produced by the instability grow on the bottomside of the F region peak, as predicted by linear theory, and then the irregularities nonlinearly bubble through to the topside, where linear theory predicts no irregularities. Fourier analysis of the irregularities show one-dimensional power-law power spectra for both the vertical and horizontal directions. (auth)

Research Organization:
Naval Research Lab., Washington, D.C. (USA)
OSTI ID:
7333741
Report Number(s):
AD-A-024440; NRL-MR-3280
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English