Spectral Characteristics of Interchange Turbulence in the Ionosphere.

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Abstract:

The spectral characteristics of turbulence associated with the magnetized plasma Rayleigh Taylor instability in the presence of a background neutral gas are studied. Particular attention is paid to comparing the spectra obtained in the ion neutral collision dominated case with the spectra from the ion inertia dominated case. A saturated level of turbulence is obtained for a model system confined between conducting boundaries with an imposed density gradient between the boundaries. The potential spectrum in the collisional case shows a marked anisotropy in contrast to that in the inertial case which is isotropic and exhibits Kolmogorov scaling. The anisotropy in the collisional case is attributed to the viscous nature of the turbulence and the consequent suppression of inertial overshoots. Application of these results to ionospheric turbulence is discussed.

Author(s):
Hassam, A. B. ; Hall, W. ; Huba, J. D. ; Keskinen, M. J.
Author Organization(s):
SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORP MCLEAN VA
Descriptive Note:
Memorandum rept.,
Supplementary Note:
Prepared in cooperation with Maryland Univ., College Park. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy and Columbia Univ., New York, NY. Dept. of Physics.
Pagination:
0055

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
NRL-MR-5793
Task Number(s):
RR0330244, A000
Project Number(s):
RR03302, W99MXWA
Monitor Series:
MR-5793
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_6.3.3_Spectrum Management; JCA_6.3_Net Management; JCA_6_Net Centric
Communities of Interest:
No COI(s) Identified
Descriptor(s):
*TURBULENCE, *IONOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES, IONOSPHERE, IONS, DENSITY, MAGNETIC FIELDS, INERTIA, MODELS, NEUTRAL, PLASMAS(PHYSICS), GASES, SATURATION, BOUNDARIES, SPECTRA, ANISOTROPY, BACKGROUND, INERTIAL SYSTEMS, GRADIENTS, PARTICLE COLLISIONS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Atmospheric Physics
Keyword(s):
Rayleigh Taylor Instability, Kolmogorov Spectrum, WU10, WUBR01043000, PE63223C
Report Date:
1986 Oct 22