Investigating instability mechanisms and their impacts on the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere system
Abstract
There are various instability mechanisms acting in the various plasma types of the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere system because of the free energy provided by the various energy sources. These instabilities include the Rayleigh-Taylor or interchange instability and the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, which are closely related and significantly impact communications and surveillance by scintillating and degrading trans-ionospheric satellite and electromagnetic signals. The R-T or interchange instability acts on a plasma boundary under the influence of gravity and therefore is also called gravitational instability. It develops when the boundary -between a heavier overlying and lighter underlying plasma-fluid- becomes distorted into a sinusoidal excursion. Then, the initial density enhancement in the lighter fluid falls, while the initial density reduction in the heavier fluid rises.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 10, 2022
- Source ID
- FA23862114103XX53
Entities
People
- Ildiko Horvath
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Queensland