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Numerical analysis of double layers in the downward current region of the aurora

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2010

SANQIU LIU  and
JINGJING LIAO
SANQIU LIU
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, P.R. China (sqlgroup@ncu.edu.cn)
JINGJING LIAO
Affiliation:
Department of Information and Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, P.R. China
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Abstract

On the basis of two magneto-fluid model for two time-scales, the evolution of double layer in the downward current region of the aurora is numerically simulated under the non-static limit case. The results show that localized drop in density owing to collapsed high-frequency field can lead to the formation of double layer. The amplitude of the double layer is the order of the electron temperature, and the ramp potential is up to 36 V localized to tens of Debye lengths, which is around 100–200 m. These are consistent with the measurements in both the ramp potential and thickness by the Fast Auroral SnapshoT satellite in the downward current region of the aurora.

Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 77 , Issue 3 , June 2011 , pp. 345 - 356
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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