On the convective instability of the cometary ionosphere

Details On the convective instability of the cometary ionosphere On the convective instability of the cometary ionosphere

Jul 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993apj...411..891e&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal - Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 411, no. 2, p. 891-895.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

1

Brunt-Vaisala Frequency, Cometary Atmospheres, Convection, Halley'S Comet, Ionospheres, Magnetohydrodynamic Stability, Ionopause, Lorentz Force, Magnetic Field Configurations, Temperature Gradients, Comets, Ionosphere, Convection, Stability, Plasma, Motion, Ionopause, Distribution, Production Rate, Analysis, Calculations, Perturbation, Halley, Techniques, Parameters, Centrifugal Force, Momentum, Density, Velocity, Wavelength

Scientific paper

The stability analysis of a cometary ionosphere by Ershkovich et al. (1989) is extended to include the effects of plasma motion. In the local inertial frame of reference moving with the plasma we arrived at the same instability criterion, but the Brunt-Vaisala frequency which governs the convective instability now involves the centrifugal force which has a destabilizing effect. As a result, the unstable layer becomes broader, expanding to greater distances from the ionopause. An increase of the comet production rate is shown to stabilize the ionosphere whereas an increase of the ion-neutral momentum exchange rate has a destabilizing effect. The cometary ionopause is shown to undergo the convective instability. The apparent stability of the Halley ionopause is due to the fact that perturbations are convected well downstream with the plasma bulk velocity before growing substantially. Thus we arrive at the conclusion that the cometary ionopause cannot be at rest.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

On the convective instability of the cometary ionosphere does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with On the convective instability of the cometary ionosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the convective instability of the cometary ionosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1069439