Scale Sizes and Lifetimes of F Region Plasma Cloud Striations as Determined by the Condition of Marginal Stability.
Abstract
The two dimensional integrated Pedersen conductivity model for F region plasma cloud striation development may be cast in dimensionless form. The result implies that a structure's stability against bifurcation depends upon whether a diffusion parameter R exceeds a critical value. The critical R for striations is determined by high resolution computer simulation for conductivity ratios M from 2 to 30. Our results combined with electron diffusivity of order 1 square meter/sec agree with observed minimum scale sizes of 15 meters. For turbulent diffusivity of order 100 square meter/sec, our results agree with frequent observations of kilometer-scale structures which 'freeze up' and last for times of order 10000 seconds. This lifetime is also predicted by our results. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 17, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA092568
Entities
People
- B. E. Mcdonald
- N. J. Zabusky
- Sidney L. Ossakow
- Steven T.P. Zalesak
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory