The Influence of Suprathermal Electrons on the Excitation of Short-Wavelength Oscillations in the Ionosphere in the Field of a Powerful Radio Wave

This paper is the continuation of [1]. The expressions obtained in [1] are used to study the influence of suprathermal electrons on the transfer of energy of the upper-hybrid plasma waves excited by the powerful radio emission into the additional region of very short-wavelength oscillations with anomalous dispersion. Using the model examples, we show that this effect can considerably intensify the transfer of plasma-wave energy. According to our calculations, plasma waves in the additional region are excited in fairly broad frequency ranges of a powerful radio wave slightly below the 4th, 5th, and 6th electron gyroharmonics. We discuss the application of the obtained results to the attenuation of the stimulated electromagnetic emission and the auxiliary ionization of the ionosphere by accelerated electrons, which were detected for the pump-wave frequency ranges specified above.     

地基高频加热激励ELF/VLF波对辐射带高能电子的准线性散射

地球内、外辐射带电子通量的变化对于空间飞行器,尤其是中低轨卫星的防护有着非常重要的影响.基于回旋共振波粒相互作用的准线性理论,使用地基高频发射器发射电波调制低电离层背景电流可以人工激励ELF/VLF波,这些波能使辐射带相对论电子发生抛射角散射沉降进入大气层从而降低其生存期.为了定量地分析人工激励ELF/VLF波散射辐射带高能粒子的可行性,针对内、外辐射带,本文选取了两个典型区域：L=4.6和L=1.5.数值计算结果表明,在内、外辐射带由于ELF/VLF波的人工注入而造成的高能电子损失时间尺度很大程度上取决于冷等离子体参量α^*(∝B²/N₀,这里B是背景磁场,N₀是电子数密度)、电波频谱特性和功率,以及与波发生回旋共振的电子能量.一般来讲,在外辐射带人工ELF/VLF哨声波散射相对论电子使之沉降到大气层要容易得多;低能量的高能电子(200keV)要比高能量的相对论电子(500keV)更有效地通过抛射角散射进入大气层.考虑到高频电波加热电离层激励的ELF/VLF波可能会被捕获在磁层空腔中,来回反射从而得到增强,因此在适当的条件下,地基高频加热装置发射足够的电波功率进入电离层诱导大幅度ELF/VLF波注入到内磁层,能够在1至3天的时间尺度内快速散射外辐射带相对论电子使之沉降,也能够在10天量级的时间尺度里散射生存周期一般为100天甚至更长的内辐射带相对论电子. 关键词： 地基高频加热电离层 ELF/VLF波激励 高能电子散射和沉降 共振波粒相互作用     

Excitation of an Additional Region of Short-Wavelength Plasma Oscillations in Ionospheric Heating Experiments

We discuss transfer of plasma waves, excited by a powerful radio wave due to its scattering on artificial ionospheric irregularities, into an additional region of very short plasma oscillations polarized almost perpendicular to the magnetic field. Such a region can exist in the magnetized ionospheric plasma due to the strong spatial dispersion. We take into account the plasma-wave diffusion over the spectrum caused by multiple scattering on irregularities, as well as the nonlinear process of plasma-wave interaction due to induced scattering by ions. The latter process leads to the transfer of primary plasma waves into the additional region. The induced scattering is considered in the differential approximation valid for sufficiently smooth plasma-wave spectra. The numerical calculations are performed for a Maxwellian plasma in which suprathermal electrons are absent. It is shown that in this case, the additional region of plasma waves is excited if the pump frequency is close to but slightly less than the fourth electron gyroharmonic, so that the absorption of primarily excited plasma waves becomes sufficiently strong. Application of our calculations to the results of ionospheric experiments is discussed.     

Plasma and electromagnetic effects in the ionosphere related to the dynamics of charged aerosols in the lower atmosphere

The paper presents a physical model of the electrodynamic effect on the ionosphere of natural and artificial processes that occur in the near-Earth atmospheric layer and are accompanied by the transfer of charged aerosols in the atmosphere. These processes include the preparation of earthquakes and typhoons, dust storms, and nuclear accidents. The model is based experimentally on satellite and ground-based records of plasma and electromagnetic perturbations, measurements of the injection of soil gases into the atmosphere, and atmospheric radioactivity data. The ionosphere is subject to actions of the conduction electric current flowing in the atmosphere-ionosphere circuit. Its source is an extraneous current formed by vertical turbulent transfer of charged aerosols and their interaction with atmospheric ions during the injection of radioactive substances and modification of atmospheric conductivity. Changes in the electric field of the ionosphere induce the development of plasma and electromagnetic phenomena. The model suggested relates ionospheric and electromagnetic perturbations to the dynamics of charged aerosols in the lower atmosphere.     

Spectra of Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission of the Ionosphere Sweeping of the Pump Wave Frequency Near Gyroharmonics. II. Discussion of the Results

Alternative mechanisms of generation of the stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) excited in the ionosphere by high-power radio waves are analyzed on the basis of measurements of the SEE spectra obtained during the pump-wave frequency sweeping near the forth (n = 4) and fifth (n = 5) harmonics of the electron gyrofrequency nf_ce [1] and their comparison with the existing physical models. A method for determination of the magnetic field strength and plasma density near the double-resonance region in the ionosphere is developed. It is shown that the generation of the broad upshifted maximum (BUM) feature in the SEE spectrum should occur several kilometers below the double-resonance altitude. A role of high-frequency plasma modes and small-scale magnetic field-aligned irregularities, excited under ionosphere pumping by a high-power radio wave, in the formation of SEE spectra is demonstrated. It is shown that the difference in the emission intensities for f₀ ≲ nf_ce and f₀ > nf_ce is related to different regions (altitudes) at which the plasma waves exist in these cases. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 7, pp. 553–570, July 2008.     

Structure of the magnetic field of the Jovian magnetosphere

We exactly solved the problem of the interaction between the rotating magnetic field of Jupiter and the equatorial plasma disk formed by the gases flowing from the Jovian satellite Io. The disk is shown to expel the Jovian magnetic field in both directions, inward, toward Jupiter, compressing its dipole magnetic field, and outward. Jupiter spins up the disk up to velocities that correspond to nearly constant angular rotation, but with an angular frequency lower than the angular frequency of Jupiter itself. The radial velocity of the plasma in the disk approaches its azimuthal velocity. We determined the power of Jupiter’s rotational energy losses. Part of this energy is transferred to the disk, and the other part goes into heating the Jovian ionosphere. We show that the Pedersen surface conductivity of the Jovian ionosphere must have a lower limit to maintain the electric current that arises in the disk-rotating magnetic field system. This current in the Jovian magnetosphere flows only along the preferential magnetic surfaces that connect the inner and outer edges of the disk to the ionosphere.     

The effects of solar flares on the very low frequency signals recorded by super SID system

Solar flares cause sudden disturbances at the Earth’s ionosphere. These effects are detected by the very low frequency (VLF), 3?30-kHz signals which are propagated at the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. The sudden changes on the time-dependent intensity of VLF signals are recorded by Super SID system during February, March, and April, 2013. Then VLF data were compared with the GOES satellite data found in the Space Environment Center online database. The main factors of the variation in VLF signal intensities recorded by the Super SID system are class, duration of the solar flare and the frequency of VLF signals.     

Self-Focusing and Channeling of Wave Beams in a Nonuniform Magnetic Field under Conditions of Ionization Nonlinearity

We study experimentally the effect of ionization self-channeling of waves at the whistler frequencies in a nonuniform magnetic field. It is shown that the formed plasma nonuniformity localizes the radiation from a short high-frequency source inside a discharge channel stretched along an external magnetic field. We found a possibility to control the parameters of the formed plasma-wave channel as well as the dispersion characteristics and structure of wave fields in wide limits by varying the magnetic field in a specified spatial region. We propose a method for the formation of a plasma resonator and test this method in the laboratory experiment. The spatial plasma and field distributions in this resonator are similar to those along a geomagnetic field tube of the magnetospheric resonator. We reveal the plasma instability in such a resonator in the vicinity of the frequency of electron bounce oscillations between magnetic mirrors.     

Local disturbances of lightning and seismic origin in the radiation belt

The results from observing bursts of high-energy charged particle fluxes in near-Earth space, caused by local disturbances of the radiation belt and particles precipitating from it, in the ARINA (on board the RESURS-DKI satellite since 2006) and VSPLESK (on board the International Space Station since 2008) satellite experiments are presented. New features were revealed in the geographic distribution of particle bursts, indicating that most high-energy electron bursts are interrelated with thunderstorm and seismic activities, at that some bursts are observed in regions of tectonic faults. Results from observing high-energy electron precipitation from the radiation belt over Japan during the powerful seismic event that began on March 11, 2011, are analyzed.     

On specific features of diurnal variations in characteristics of the diagnostic stimulated electromagnetic emission and their relation to the evolution of artificial ionospheric irregularities

We analyze variations in characteristics of the diagnostic stimulated electromagnetic emission of the ionosphere in the evening hours including the times of sunset both on the Earth’s surface at the observation point and in the ionosphere over it. It is found that an increase in typical times of evolution of the diagnostic emission begins to be recorded just before the sunset on the Earth’s surface when the ionosphere is illuminated and its parameters are not significantly changed yet. We state that the typical times of evolution of the diagnostic emission increase when the pump-wave frequency approaches the critical frequency of the ionospheric F₂ layer, but such an effect is not as significant as when passing from the illuminated to the unilluminated ionosphere. It is established that at the stage of diagnostic sounding the pump-wave pulse power does not exert any notable influence on the first (fast) stage of relaxation of small-scale artificial ionospheric irregularities, but can increase the decay time of the irregularities at the second (slow) stage of relaxation. Capabilities of the method for a study of artificial plasma turbulence using the diagnostic stimulated electromagnetic emission are discussed. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 273–286, April 2008.     

Turbulence spectrum of the upper ionosphere

The problem of defining the spectral form of ionospheric irregularities with dimensions from hundreds to thousands of meters is considered. A generalized model is proposed for the ionospheric turbulence spectrum, taking into account both the anisotropic properties of the large-scale fraction of irregularities and the dependence of the anisotropy (elongation) of small-scale irregularities of the upper ionosphere along the Earth magnetic field direction on the transverse scale of those irregularities. Relations have been derived to determine the basic parameters of the irregularity spectrum of the uppers ionosphere (anisotropy indices for large-scale and small-scale fractions) and the depth of a thin ionospheric layer through measurement of the spectral characteristics of amplitude and phase fluctuations of orbital satellite signals. Using this model of the plasma irregularity spectrum, we can explain consistently many well-known experimental data on spectral characteristics of the phase and amplitude fluctuations of orbital satellite signals both in the high-latitude and midlatitude ionosphere. Radiophysical Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 446–456, April, 1997.     

Toward a theory of the double plasma resonance in the solar corona

Specific features of the double plasma resonance effect in a magnetized plasma of the solar corona are discussed. The effect consists in enhanced generation of plasma waves in the regions where the upper hybrid frequency coincides with electron gyrofrequency harmonics. It is widely used for interpretation of a fine structure in solar radio emission spectrum in the form of parallel drifting quasi-harmonic stripes of enhanced radiation intensity (zebra pattern). It is shown that the plasma-wave growth rate increases due to both dispersion properties of plasma waves, which are determined by the equilibrium plasma component, and electrons which are non-equilibrium with respect to the velocities transverse to the magnetic field. Special attention is given to an incorrect consideration of the double plasma resonance effect in some papers. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 95–108, February 2009.     

Laboratory modeling of physical processes in the ionosphere modified by powerful radio emission

We present the results of the laboratory modeling of physical processes occurring in the ionosphere during active experiments on the ionospheric modificaton by powerful radio emission. The process of nonuniform thermo-diffusion of a magnetoplasma due to local electron heating is studied under the conditions modeling the ionospheric F layer. It is revealed by direct measurements that thermo-diffusion and diffusion are accompanied by excitation of macroscopic eddy currents. In this case, electrons and ions diffuse along and across the magnetic field, respectively, and the eddy current is carried by particles of the background plasma. As a result, a magnetic-field-aligned density depletion rapidly forms in the plasma. The possibility of trapping and guided propagation of Langmuir waves in such a plasma inhomogeneity is demonstrated. Conditions are found under which the wave trapping and the formation of the inhomogeneity occur in a self-consistent regime, i.e., Langmuir waves are trapped in a small-scale inhomogeneity which, in turn, is formed due to local plasma heating by the field of the trapped waves. Such nonlinear wave trapping takes place only above a certain threshold, which significantly increases in the vicinity of gyroharmonics. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 50, No. 8, pp. 731–746, August 2007.     

Magnetic zenith effect in ionospheric modifications

The theory of ionospheric modification for the beam of powerful radio emission directed along magnetic field lines is developed. Nonlinear process of beam self-focusing on striations is shown to determine strong amplification of heating and acceleration of plasma electrons. It results in a dramatic enhancement of optic emission from the magnetic zenith region in ionospheric F-layer. An excellent agreement between the theory and recent fundamental observations at HAARP facility (Alaska) [T. Pedersen et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. (2002), in press] is demonstrated.     

Satellite observations of electric fields in the innermagnetosphere and their effects in the mid-to-low latitude ionosphere

During geomagnetic disturbances, momentum and energy are transferred in significant quantities from interplanetary space to the magnetosphere-ionosphere system through the mediation of charged particles and electric fields. The most dramatic manifestations occur in the plasma sheet and the conjugate auroral ionosphere. However, electric fields observed during magnetic storms also penetrate the inner magnetosphere that maps to subauroral latitudes in the ionosphere. For example, a sudden commencement shock wave initiating the March 1991 magnetic storm created a new radiation belt within minutes. Particle and field measurements by Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) near the equatorial plane of the magnetosphere and by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites in the topside ionosphere during the magnetic storm of June 1991 indicate that penetration electric fields energized the stormtime ring current and rapidly transported plasma within subauroral ion drift (SAID) structures at midlatitudes and in upward drafting plasma bubbles at low latitudes. Through enhanced transport or chemical reactions, the SAIDs dug deep plasma troughs at topside altitudes. Equatorial plasma bubbles developed while the ring current was unable to shield the electric field from the innermost magnetosphere     

Possibility of detecting magnetic charges using pulsar emission

Modification of well-known plasma-wave dispersion relations due to particles bearing magnetic charge is presented. If these charges exist in the interstellar medium, the effects of the new modes they allow may be detectable in pulsar emission.     

Plasma-wave interaction in helicon plasmas near the lower hybrid frequency

We study the characteristics of plasma-wave interaction in helicon plasmas near the lower hybrid frequency. The (0D) dispersion relation is derived to analyze the properties of the wave propagation and a 1D cylindrical plasma-wave interaction model is established to investigate the power deposition and to implement the parametric analysis. It is concluded that the lower hybrid resonance is the main mechanism of the power deposition in helicon plasmas when the RF frequency is near the lower hybrid frequency and the power deposition mainly concentrates on a very thin layer near the boundary. Therefore, it causes that the plasma resistance has a large local peak near the lower hybrid frequency and the variation of the plasma density and the parallel wavenumber lead to the frequency shifting of the local peaks. It is found that the magnetic field is still proportional to the plasma density for the local maximum plasma resistance and the slope changes due to the transition.     

Attosecond plasma wave dynamics in laser-driven cluster nanoplasmas

We introduce a microscopic particle-in-cell approach that allows bridging the microscopic and macroscopic realms of laser-driven plasma physics. As a first application, resonantly driven cluster nanoplasmas are investigated. Our analysis reveals an attosecond plasma-wave dynamics in clusters with radii R is approximately equal to 30 nm. The plasma waves are excited by electrons recolliding with the cluster surface and travel toward the center, where they collide and break. In this process, energetic electron hot spots are generated along with highly localized attosecond electric field fluctuations, whose intensity exceeds the driving laser by more than 2 orders of magnitude. The ionization enhancement resulting from both effects generates a strongly nonuniform ion charge distribution. The observed nonlinear plasma-wave phenomena have a profound effect on the ionization dynamics of nanoparticles and offer a route to extreme nanoplasmonic field enhancements.     

Vertical Velocities and Temperature of the Neutral Component in the Upper Atmosphere

Results of measurements of the velocity of the vertical plasma motion and the temperature of the neutral component in the upper atmosphere and comparison of variations in these parameters have been described. The measurements have been carried out by the resonance scattering of radio waves by artificial periodic irregularities in the ionospheric plasma. The irregularities arise when the ionosphere is modificated by a powerful high-frequency radio emission from a Sura midlatitude heating facility. Comparison has been conducted using experimental data on altitude- and time-dependent variations in the above parameters obtained in experiments of 2010 and 2014. It has been shown that, above 100 km, wavelike variations in temperature and velocity are commonly observed simultaneously. In the absence of wavelike variations, there is a tendency to an increase in temperature with an increase in the velocity of the vertical plasma motion regardless of direction. This tendency can be attributed to thermal flows directed upward from the turbulent region of the ionosphere.     

Laboratory studies of spectral features of stimulated electromagnetic emission during the ionospheric heating experiments

We present the results of laboratory studies of the formation of a number of spectral components of stimulated electromagnetic emission, which are related to the excitation of small-scale irregularities in the heated ionosphere. In the laboratory experiment, the small-scale irregularity was formed as a result of thermal self-channeling of short-wavelength quasielectrostatic oscillations in a magnetoplasma. Using the method of probing waves, it is experimentally shown that the trapping and waveguide propagation in a small-scale plasma irregularity are exclusively due to Langmuir waves, whereas the upper-hybrid waves with anomalous dispersion are not trapped into the irregularity. It is found that satellites shifted by about 1–2 MHz from the carrier frequency (700 MHz under the experimental conditions) are formed in the Langmuir wave spectrum during the thermal self-channeling. Two mechanisms of generation of spectral satellites have been detected. The first (dynamic) mechanism is observed during the formation of a small-scale irregularity with rapidly increasing longitudinal size. In this case, one low-frequency satellite is excited in the trapped-wave spectrum. The mechanism of the formation of this satellite is apparently related to the Doppler shift of the frequency of the Langmuir waves trapped inside the irregularity. The second (stationary) mechanism is observed in the case of a developed irregularity where its shape is close to cylindrical. In this regime, the trapped-wave spectrum has two symmetric spectral satellites, namely, high- and low-frequency ones. It may be hypothesized that the generation of these satellites is due to scattering of trapped Langmuir waves from drift oscillations of the irregularity.