Excitation of forced ion acoustic waves, large plasma sheets, and magnetic field fluctuations over Gakona, Alaska

[摘要] (cont.) The dominant nonlinearity is provided by the differential Joule heating acting on electrons, which subsequently gives rise to a cross-field thermal pressure force, to concomitantly generate spatially varying plasma density fluctuations and geomagnetic field fluctuations. It is interesting to find that the fractional density fluctuations are approximately equal to the fractional magnetic field fluctuations. This gives us the theoretical basis to use ground-based magnetometer measurements to infer the density fluctuations in space plasma turbulence. Such a remote sensing technique for probing the space plasma is much more effective and economic than using a beacon satellite.

[发布机构] Massachusetts Institute of Technology