Abstract
We consider the gradient-current instability of an inhomogeneous magnetoactive plasma in the approximation of double-fluid magnetohydrodynamics. Unlike the known gradient-drift and current-convective instabilities, the gradient-current instability is related to generation of nonpotential quasistatic electric fields polarized orthogonal to the external magnetic field B 0 and excited by eddy currents whose density vector lies in the plane passing through the vectors of the magnetic field B 0 and large-scale electron-density gradient. It is shown that in the high-latitude upper ionosphere, in the regions containing large-scale currents flowing in and out of the ionosphere along the magnetic field, the gradient-current instability can lead to the appearance of sheet-like irregularities extended predominantly in the plane passing through the geomagnetic-field and regular plasma-drift velocity vectors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
J. W. Dungey, J. Atm. Terr. Phys., 9, 304 (1956).
M. C. Kelley, The Earth's Ionosphere: Plasma Physics and Electrodynamics. Int. Geophys. Ser., Vol. 43, Academic Press, New York (1989).
B. B. Kadomtsev and A. V. Nedospasov, J. Nucl. Energy C, 1, 230 (1960).
S. L. Ossakow and P. K. Chaturvedi, Geophys. Res. Lett., 6, 332 (1979).
L. M. Erukhimov and L. M. Kagan, J. Atm. Terr. Phys., 56, 133 (1994).
R. C. Livingston, C. L. Rino, J. Owen, and R. T. Tsunoda, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 10519 (1982).
L. M. Erukhimov, V. I. Kosolapenko, E. N. Myasnikov, and A. M. Lerner, Planet. Space Sci., 29, 931 (1981).
J. D. Huba, S. L. Ossakow, P. Satyanarayana, and P. N. Guzdar, J. Geophys. Res., 88, 425 (1983).
M. J. Keskinen, H. G. Mitchell, J. A. Fedder, et al., J. Geophys. Res., 93, 137 (1988).
T. Nagatsuma, H. Fukunishi, H. Hayakawa, T. Mikai, and A. Matsuoka, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 21715 (1996).
P. M. Kintner and C. E. Seyler, Space Sci. Rev., 41, 91 (1985).
L. M. Erukhimov and E. N. Myasnikov, Radiophys. Quantum Electron., 41, 125 (1998).
E. N. Myasnikov, Radiophys. Quantum Electron., 42, 609 (1999).
H. Moffat, Excitation of the Magnetic Field in a Conducting Medium [Russian translation], Mir, Moscow (1980).
E. D. Tereshchenko, B. Z. Khudukon, M. O. Kozlova, et al., O. V. Evstafiev, T. Nygren, M. T. Rietveld, and A. Brekke, Ann. Geophysicae, 18, 918 (2000).
B. B. Kadomtsev, The Collective Phenomena in a Plasma [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1988).
Y. Kamide, Space Sci. Rev.. 31, 127 (1982).
L. M. Erukhimov, E. N. Myasnikov, V. I. Kosolapenko, et al., Radio Sci., 29, 311 (1994).
L. M. Kagan, E. N. Myasnikov, V. I. Kosolapenko, et al., J. Atm. Terr. Phys., 57, 917 (1995).
A. V. Gurevich and E. E. Tsedilina, Usp. Fiz. Nauk, 91, 609 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
__________
Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 48, No. 7, pp. 574–587, August 2005.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Myasnikov, E.N. On the Gradient-Current Mechanism of Formation of the Irregular Structure of the High-Latitude Upper Ionosphere. Radiophys Quantum Electron 48, 510–521 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11141-005-0095-5
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11141-005-0095-5