This study addresses the problem of ion-beam driven waves and their effects on the accumulation of ionospheric plasma in the outer plasmasphere. This addresses a major problem in magnetospheric physics, that is, the refilling of the plasmasphere following geomagnetic storms. The primary goal of the project is to firmly establish the methodology of the following basic paradigm and modeling approach assumes that as soon as the plasma flow parameters cross marginal stability conditions for the waves, the instabilities are triggered and clamp the flow near the conditions for marginal stability. Thus, from the waves and instability standpoint, the quasisteady state of the plasma is known a priori. When the macroscopic processes drive the plasma away form this state toward instability, we know the excess momentum and the directed kinetic energy which need to be thermalized by the instability process. This facilitates an easy calculation of the anomalous plasma transport coefficients to be included in a mesoscale model based on plasma transport equations without knowing the details of the instabilityprocess. This approach is termed the Anomalous Plasma Effects or APE model. The research strategy consists of 1) systematic determination of easy-to-use semiempirical relations for the marginal stability conditions for the plasma during the refilling situation, 2) small-scale particle- in-cell simulations to characterize plasma heating by the instabilities and to test the APE model, and 3) mesoscale modeling using two-stream hydrodynamic code including the anomalous transport coefficients.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS)
Application #
9529623
Program Officer
Kile B. Baker
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1996-08-01
Budget End
2000-04-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
$138,390
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Huntsville
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35805