Excitation of acoustic waves by ion-acoustic waves in an inhomogeneous, partially ionized medium

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:7339956

Savchenko, Y N

The excitation of acoustic waves by ion-acoustic waves in an inhomogeneous medium in which the degree of ionization varies in the direction of the gravitational force is analyzed. It is assumed that the ionization varies over a broad range: For z..-->..-infinity the ion-acoustic wave is highly damped and for z..-->..infinity the damping is insignificant. As the ion-acoustic wave propagates along the negative z axis, it excites an acoustic wave by virtue of collisions between charged particles that participate in the ion-acoustic wave and neutrals. The frequency range of interest lies well below the ion plasma frequency and far above the frequency of ion--neutral collisions. The medium is treated as a three-component gas of ions, electrons, and neutrals. Analytic expressions are derived for the properties of the acoustic waves as functions of the frequency and amplitude of the ion-acoustic wave and the properties of the medium. The acceleration due to gravity can strongly influence the excitation of acoustic waves. Various limiting relations between the acoustic wavelength, the ion-acoustic wavelength, and the scale dimension of the density inhomogeneity of the neutral gas are analyzed. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Moscow Engineering Physics Institute
• OSTI ID: 7339956
• Journal Information: Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 21:6; ISSN SPTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
AMPLITUDES
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
INTERACTIONS
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
SOUND WAVES