Simulations and Theory of Medium to Small Scale E-region Turbulance

该项目将基于对现有大规模并行动力学等离子体模拟程序的数值改进和理论，以前所未有的空间分辨率研究电离层低层(E区)等离子体密度不规则性的物理基础。改进包括开发离子和电子流体模块，以实现更大规模的模拟，并纳入电子热效应、非周期性边界条件以及粒子注入和去除，以模拟具有更真实温度和密度梯度的极光和光电子过程。拟议的科学研究集中在低纬度和高纬度等离子体不稳定性，以及第一次E区热不稳定性。模拟结果将与观测结果进行比较，并用于开发分析模型，以改进对电离层内湍流和不均匀电流和能量流动的了解。这项研究的结果将改进对火箭的解释和对地球空间环境的雷达监测，并提高高层大气模拟能力。

This project will investigate the physics underlying plasma density irregularities in the lower (E-region) ionosphere at unprecedented spatial resolution based on numerical improvements to existing, massively-parallel, kinetic plasma simulation code as well as theory. Improvements include the development of ion and electron fluid modules to enable larger scale simulations and the incorporation of electron thermal effects, non-periodic boundary conditions, and particle injection and removal for simulation of auroral and photoelectron processes having more realistic temperatures and density gradients. The proposed scientific studies are focused on low- and high-latitude plasma instabilities and also, for the first time, E-region thermal instabilities. The simulation results will be compared to observations and used to develop analytical models to improve understanding of turbulent and inhomogeneous currents and energy flows within the ionosphere. Results from this research will improve interpretation of rocket and radar monitoring of the geospace environment as well as advance upper atmospheric modeling capability.