Direct evidence of double‐slope power spectra in the high‐latitude ionospheric plasma

Abstract

We report direct observations of the double‐slope power spectra for plasma irregularities in the F layer of the polar ionosphere. The investigation of cusp irregularities ICI‐2 sounding rocket, which was launched into the polar cusp ionosphere, intersected enhanced plasma density regions with decameter‐scale irregularities. Density measurements at unprecedented high resolution with multi‐Needle Langmuir Probes allowed for a detailed study of the plasma irregularities down to kinetic scales. Spectral analysis reveals double‐slope power spectra for regions of enhanced fluctuations associated mainly with density gradients, with the steepening of the spectra occurring close to the oxygen gyrofrequency. These findings are further supported with the first results from the ICI‐3 rocket, which flew through regions with strong precipitation and velocity shears. Previously, double‐slope spectra have been observed in the equatorial ionosphere. The present work gives a direct evidence that the double‐slope power spectra can be common in the high‐latitude ionosphere.