Simulations and Theory of Small Scale E-region Turbulence

小尺度E区湍流的模拟与理论

• 批准号: 0442075
• 负责人: Meers Oppenheim
• 金额: $ 48万
• 依托单位: Trustees of Boston University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-02-01 至 2010-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0442075&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Simulations; Theory; Small; Scale; region

Plasma instabilities and turbulence in the auroral and equatorial electrojet currents are investigated using numerical simulations. The particle-in-cell (PIC) simulator is expanded to 3-dimensional capability using new parallel computing capability, and the three dimensional simulations are the first such 3-D descriptions of kinetic E-region turbulence. The mechanisms by which thermal gradients within waves and within the ambient atmosphere drive or modify wave growth and wave evolution are revealed in this new 3-D simulation. By consequence of the new insights gleaned from the simulators, interpretation of radar echos from E-region instabilities becomes more precise, and the diagnostic and predictive capabilities of the Aeronomy and Space-Weather communities are enhanced. Improved numerical plasma simulators are useful to many aspects of applied and theoretical plasma physics research, and this research is expected to benefit a large cross-section of the plasmasphere community.

使用数值模拟研究极光和赤道电射流中的等离子体不稳定性和湍流。 使用新的并行计算功能，细胞内粒子 (PIC) 模拟器已扩展到 3 维功能，并且 3 维模拟是动力学 E 区湍流的第一个此类 3 维描述。 这个新的 3D 模拟揭示了波内和周围大气内的热梯度驱动或改变波生长和波演化的机制。 通过从模拟器中收集到的新见解，对 E 区不稳定性的雷达回波的解释变得更加精确，并且航空和空间天气社区的诊断和预测能力也得到了增强。 改进的数值等离子体模拟器对于应用和理论等离子体物理研究的许多方面都很有用，这项研究预计将使等离子体圈界的大部分人受益。