The role of lower-hybrid-wave collapse in the auroral ionosphere.
In regions where lower-hybrid solitary structures (LHSS) are observed, the character of auroral lower-hybrid turbulence (LHT) (0-20 kHz) is investigated using the amplitude probability distribution of the electric field. The observed probability distributions are accurately described by a Rayleigh distribution with two degrees of freedom. The statistics of the LHT exhibit no evidence of the global modulational instability or self-similar wave collapse. We conclude that nucleation and resonant scattering in preexisting density depletions are the processes responsible for LHSS in auroral LHT.
Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6794, 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5000, USA. schuck@ppdmail.nrl.navy.mil
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Kintner