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Title: Electromagnetic fluctuations generated in the boundary layer of laboratory-created ionospheric depletions

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4940670· OSTI ID:22493835
 [1];  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, School of Earth and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China)
  2. CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Modern Physics Department, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China)

Ionospheric depletions, produced by release of attachment chemicals into the ionosphere, were widely investigated and taken as a potential technique for the artificial modification of space weather. In this work, we reported the experimental evidence of spontaneously generated electromagnetic fluctuations in the boundary layer of laboratory-created ionospheric depletions. These depletions were produced by releasing attachment chemicals into the ambient plasmas. Electron density gradients and sheared flows arose in the boundary layer between the ambient and the negative ions plasmas. These generated electromagnetic fluctuations with fundamental frequency f{sub 0} = 70 kHz lie in the lower hybrid frequency range, and the mode propagates with angles smaller than 90° (0.3π–0.4π) relative to the magnetic field. Our results revealed that these observed structures were most likely due to electromagnetic components of the electron-ion hybrid instability. This research demonstrates that electromagnetic fluctuations also can be excited during active release experiments, which should be considered as an essential ingredient in the boundary layer processes of ionospheric depletions.

OSTI ID:
22493835
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 23, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English