Lower hybrid drift instability in the ionosphere

Abstract

In this paper we examine the drift instability around the lower hybrid resonance (LHR) frequency in the presence of temperature and density gradients. The unstable mode which propagates with the electron drift velocity is strongly affected by the electron temperature and density gradients present in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field. A generalised expression for the growth/damping rate for the lower hybrid drift mode in the presence of temperature and density gradients have been derived and discussed for suitable ionospheric plasma parameters. Expressions for marginal stability and maximum growth rate have also been calculated. Applications of these results to explain some of the observed features of satellite observations of ionospheric plasma have been indicated. © 1979 IOP Publishing Ltd.