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| Titel |
The equatorial E-region and its plasma instabilities: a tutorial |
| VerfasserIn |
D. T. Farley |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
0992-7689
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Annales Geophysicae ; 27, no. 4 ; Nr. 27, no. 4 (2009-04-02), S.1509-1520 |
| Datensatznummer |
250016477
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/angeo-27-1509-2009.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| In this short tutorial we first briefly review the basic physics of
the E-region of the equatorial ionosphere, with emphasis on the
strong electrojet current system that drives plasma instabilities
and generates strong plasma waves that are easily detected by radars
and rocket probes. We then discuss the instabilities themselves,
both the theory and some examples of the observational data. These
instabilities have now been studied for about half a century (!),
beginning with the IGY, particularly at the Jicamarca Radio
Observatory in Peru. The linear fluid theory of the important
processes is now well understood, but there are still questions
about some kinetic effects, not to mention the considerable amount
of work to be done before we have a full quantitative understanding
of the limiting nonlinear processes that determine the details of
what we actually observe. As our observational techniques,
especially the radar techniques, improve, we find some answers, but
also more and more questions. One difficulty with studying natural
phenomena, such as these instabilities, is that we cannot perform
active cause-and-effect experiments; we are limited to the inputs
and responses that nature provides. The one hope here is the
steadily growing capability of numerical plasma simulations. If we
can accurately simulate the relevant plasma physics, we can control
the inputs and measure the responses in great detail. Unfortunately,
the problem is inherently three-dimensional, and we still need
somewhat more computer power than is currently available, although
we have come a long way. |
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