Enhanced Aurora and Thin, Dense, Heavy Ion Ionization Layers

Physics

Scientific paper

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2407 Auroral Ionosphere (2704), 2439 Ionospheric Irregularities, 2455 Particle Precipitation, 2471 Plasma Waves And Instabilities (2772), 2483 Wave/Particle Interactions (7867)

Scientific paper

Thin layers of enhanced luminosity are commonly observed during auroral displays. The enhanced luminosity occurs at altitudes where thin, dense, heavy ion layers are often observed in the E-region. Based on the spectral characteristics of the enhanced layers, it is believed that the enhanced emissions result when wave-particle interactions heat ambient electrons to energies at or above the 17 eV ionization energy of N2. We investigate instabilities that could occur in dense, heavy ion layers in the presence of strong cross-field currents that accompany electron precipitation. We present analytical studies of the cross-field current driven instability including kinetic effects, ion-neutral, and electron-neutral collisions. Electrostatic simulations have shown that the instability heats ambient electrons into a suprathermal tail that could produce enhanced emissions. We discuss the nonlinear development of the instability and compare the expected electron energy flux with typical auroral observations.

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