Critical density gradients for small-scale plasma irregularity generation in the E and F regions

Abstract

Electron density gradients that can make plasma unstable in the ionospheric E and F regions are analyzed. We focus on critical gradient values required for plasma instability to become operational to produce decameter-scale plasma irregularities observed by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) without any nonlinear wave cascade. Analytic expressions are developed for the critical gradients using a recently developed general formalism for arbitrary geometry and with the ion inertia and stabilizing thermal diffusion effects included. It is demonstrated that the problem can be analyzed using a single equation applicable in both the E and F regions that only differs in the sign of the main term related to convection strength. Analytic expressions are obtained, and results are presented for (1) critical gradient strength for arbitrary gradient and propagation directions, (2) range of propagation directions with unstable primary waves, (3) most favorable configuration and minimum critical gradient, and (4) most favorable propagation direction for arbitrary gradient direction. It is shown that the most favorable configuration is achieved for propagation along the differential drift and gradient perpendicular to it and that an unexpected exception is the F region under strong convection when propagation and gradient are both rotated by a certain angle. It is estimated that in the F region, from which most of the SuperDARN backscatter comes, primary decameter waves can be generated for gradient scales as large as 100 km for favorable orientations and strong plasma convection >500 m/s and that much smaller scales of 200–1000 m are required for unfavorable orientations.