Lower hybrid dissipative cavitons and ion heating in the auroral ionosphere

Abstract

In this paper numerical solutions of Zakharov-type equations for lower-hybrid (LH) waves, including pumping at the long wavelengths and dissipation at short wavelengths in the form of dissipative cavitons are described. The caviton is a quasistationary structure undergoing many sequences of collapse due to dissipation, created by ion–wave interactions, which is compensated for by constant pump action. The possibility of trapping of short-wavelength LH oscillations by much broader density cavitons is investigated both analytically and numerically. Analytic self-similar solutions corresponding to collapse of such cavitons are constructed and demonstrate cascading to shorter wavelengths, which develops faster than the three-dimensional (3-D) quasiclassical cavity contraction. Numerical solutions show the development of deep caviton modulation due to the instability of quasiclassical collapse. Results of the numerical and analytical investigation are used to explain the recent observations of cavity formation in the auroral ionosphere, and show that the measured structures could indeed arise from quasiclassical LH collapse.