N. I. Izhovkina

Observation and theory of topside ionospheric plasma inhomogeneities

Abstract In the rocket experiment “Vertical-10”, a spectrum analyser of plasma irregularities and a Langmuir probe were used. A large-scale plasma inhomogeneity decay into small-scale structure was observed in the nighttime topside ionosphere over a broad band of irregular sizes from some tens of metres to several hundreds of kilometres. We suppose that internal gravity wave damping at altitudes 300–500 km heats the upper ionosphere and, due to superthermal charged particle fluxes, large-scale plasma inhomogeneities can be induced. A large-scale, electrostatically unstable plasma inhomogeneity which decays into small-scale structure was observed in our experiment. The experimental results, an analytical calculation and some computations are presented for the treatment of possible mechanisms for plasma inhomogeneity generation and decay.

Plasma Cavern Structure in the Ionosphere F Layer at the Geomagnetic Equator according to the Kosmos 900 Satellite Data

The observational data on the plasma density and electron component temperature in the region of the geomagnetic equator in the ionosphere F layer are presented. The measurements have been conducted by scientific equipment onboard the Kosmos 900 satellite (on August 7, 1979). A plasma cavern was observed in this region. It is shown that the formation of the cavern may be related to the attenuation of the electrostatic plasma instability and plasma vortices in the upper ionosphere at the geomagnetic equator.

Electromagnetic Waves and Electrostatic Oscillations in an Inhomogeneous Plasma Structure at the Geomagnetic Equator

The measurements of the broadband wave radiation in the region of the geomagnetic equator in the topside ionosphere are presented (the APEX satellite experiment). It has been indicated that the electromagnetic radiation, observed in a plasma density pit, could be related to the formation of a large-scale plasma cavern in the vicinity of the geomagnetic equatorial surface. A large-scale plasma density pit could be formed in the region of heating during damping of plasma vortical structures and electrostatic oscillations, propagating across geomagnetic field lines and crossing the geomagnetic equatorial surface. Brightness of the electromagnetic radiation, observed at frequencies higher than the plasma eigenfrequencies and local plasma and/or upper hybrid frequencies, decreases with increasing eigenfrequencies.

Plasma wave radiation in the main ionospheric trough in the region of the terminator from the APEX satellite data

The data of measurements of broadband wave radiation in the main ionospheric trough in the subauroral zone of the topside ionosphere in the region of the day-night terminator (APEX satellite experiment) are presented. It is shown that the observed attenuation of electrostatic radiation in a broad frequency band and fluctuations (variations) in the cutoff frequency of the electrostatic mode spectrum at the level of the local plasma or upper hybrid frequency are related to plasma heating by damping electrostatic oscillations in the ionospheric trough. Waveguide channels for propagation of electromagnetic whistler-mode waves observed on the satellite can be generated during the propagation of a gravity-thermal disturbance from the terminator.

Plasma irregularities in unstable outer ionosphere according to the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite data

The results of the satellite low-latitude and mid-latitude measurements of the disturbed plasma concentration, electron temperature, and quasi-stable electric field at heights of ∼900 km after sunset are discussed. It is shown that the sharp fronts of changes in the electron temperature and plasma density observed in the experiment onboard the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite in the low-latitude (and equatorial) outer ionosphere can be related to damping of the oscillations of plasma electrons at local decreases of the plasma density (plasma “pits”) and formation of the vortex plasma structures at density and temperature gradients, which promotes conservation of ionosphere irregularities and makes the fronts of concentration variations steeper. Nonmonotonic variations in the plasma conductivity for the ionosphere currents in unstable plasma can be a cause of observed nonmonotonic disturbances of the vertical component of the “constant” electric field.

The effect of particles and electromagnetic waves on vortex structures in the atmosphere and the ionosphere

The formation of vortex structures in an inhomogeneous gyrotropic atmosphere was stochastically determined. Atmospheric gyrotropy is induced by the Coriolis force acting as the Earth rotates and the motion of charged particles in the geomagnetic field. Vortices of a plasma nature are observed in the atmosphere. The electric field of such plasma vortices originates within the fields of pressure gradients of a mosaic cell topology upon the ionization of particles. It is shown that waves in a neutral atmosphere, electric fields, and electromagnetic waves affect the stability of vortex structures. Wave signals from anthropogenic sources and smog may stimulate local precipitation upon the passage of a cloud front and weaken or strengthen vortex structures. The plasma vortex may capture charged particles of different masses. The charge separation in plasma vortex structures is driven by the polarization drift at the decay of electric fields. The self-focusing of plasma vortices upon the condensation of moisture in the atmospheric cloud cover leads to an increase in the energy of vortices.

Interaction between plasma structures in an unstable ionospheric plasma

A vortex structure renders additional stability to plasma irregularities stretched along magnetic field lines. Plasma irregularities extended over several tens of kilometers are registered with rocket and satellite equipment in the topside ionosphere. The registered scale of irregularities depends on the spatial and time resolution of the equipment used. Irregular structures were registered in the ionosphere during experiments with barium clouds and jets, when a plasma irregularity separated into strata extended over several meters and several kilometers across the geomagnetic field. It has been indicated that plasma vortices can be generated in an unstable plasma in a situation when its quasi-neutrality is disturbed. Local geomagnetic field disturbances will be caused by the appearance of a proper vortex magnetic field. Plasma vortices can interact in an inhomogeneous plasma with an unstable electron component. Such interactions are related to the transformation of the phase volume of free electrostatic oscillations in the frequency-wave vector space.

Electrodynamics of plasma irregularities in the experiments with artificial clouds and jets in the ionosphere

Electric fields in the near-Earth space was studied in the experiments with artificial plasma clouds and jets in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. The development of a nonmonotonous plasma density stratification of an artificial plasma formation, with the scale of strata across the geomagnetic field reaching several meters and tens of meters, was observed. It has been indicated that the electrodynamics of plasma clouds and jets, decomposing into strata, depends on the excitation and decay of fast oscillations of the electronic plasma component against a background of slow oscillations of the ionic component at frequencies of magnetized plasma electrostatic oscillations (electrostatic Bernstein modes of the plasma electronic and ionic components and ion acoustic oscillations).

Plasma vortices in the ionosphere and atmosphere

Vortices observed in ionized clouds of thunderstorm fronts have the nature of plasma vortices. In this work, the need to account for the electrostatic instability of plasma in the origination, intensification, and decay of plasma vortices in the atmosphere is shown. Moisture condensation results in mass-energy transfer under the inhomogeneous spatial distribution of aerosols. If a phase volume of natural oscillations is transformed in the frequency-wave vector space in inhomogeneous plasma, the damping of plasma oscillations promotes an increase in the pressure gradients normal to the geomagnetic field. Excitation of the gradient instabilities is probable in atmospheric plasma formations.

Particle energy fluxes in an unstable plasma with vortex structures in an inhomogeneous geomagnetic field in the topside ionosphere

Plasma inhomogeneities extending along geomagnetic field lines in the ionosphere and magnetosphere can have a vortex structure. Electromagnetic waves can propagate in plasma inhomogeneities in the waveguide channel mode. It has been indicated that energy and particle fluxes related to the development of small-scale electrostatic turbulence in a magnetized plasma with an unstable electron component promotes an increase in plasma density gradients in the walls of waveguide channels and an enhancement in plasma vortices. At low L shells in the region of the geomagnetic equator, the development of plasma electrostatic instability and the damping of drifting plasma vortices in the inhomogeneous geomagnetic field in the topside ionosphere can be the main mechanism by which large-scale (∼1000 km) regions with a decreased plasma density are formed.