Short Wavelength Stabilization of the Gradient Drift Instability due to Velocity Shear.

Abstract

A nonlocal analysis of the gradient drift instability is presented. The new effect included in this theory is the allowance for an inhomogeneous electric field which produces a sheared drift velocity. It is found that velocity shear can stabilize the short wavelength modes of the instability, and preferentially excite a longer wavelength mode than would be expected based upon local theory. This result may explain the observations of dominant, long wavelength irregularities in the equatorial electrojet and be relevant to irregularities in the auroral ionosphere. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 04, 1983
Accession Number
ADA128253

Entities

People

  • Joseph D. Huba
  • L. C. Lee

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Boundary Layer
  • Corporations
  • Electric Fields
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Ionosphere
  • Long Wavelengths
  • Military Research
  • Phase Velocity
  • Physics
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Security
  • Short Wavelengths
  • Solar System
  • Space Sciences
  • Systems Engineering

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.