A renormalization group approach to estimation of anomalous diffusion in the unstable equatorial F region

Hysell, D. L.; Seyler, C. E.

A renormalization group approach to estimation of anomalous diffusion in the unstable equatorial F region

Abstract

An expression is derived for the anomalous diffusion coefficient associated with collisional interchange turbulence in the equatorial F region ionosphere. Waves with ω ≪ Vin ≪ Ωi are considered. The calculation makes use of the renormalization group method, following closely that of Kichatinov [1985]. The calculation is applied to the problem of plasma waves in the equatorial F region ionosphere generated by the ionospheric interchange instability. Approximations appropriate for the geometry of that problem are incorporated into the calculation. Using a model spectrum of the irregularities based on in situ satellite observations, we calculate that the anomalous diffusion seen by large‐scale plasma waves can be 5 orders of magnitude larger than the ambipolar diffusion coefficient.

Date

1998-11-01

Keywords

Ionosphere , F region , Plasma waves , Satellites , Collisions (Nuclear physics)

Citation

Hysell, D. L., & Seyler, C. E. (1998). A renormalization group approach to estimation of anomalous diffusion in the unstable equatorial F region. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 103 (A11), 26731-26737. https://doi.org/10.1029/98JA02616