Numerical study on matching conditions of Langmuir parametric instability and the formation of Langmuir turbulence in ionospheric heating

Abstract

Parametric decay instability (PDI) is an important process in ionospheric heating. This paper focuses on the frequency and wavevector matching condition in the initial PDI process, the subsequent cascade stage, and the generation of strong Langmuir turbulence. A more general numerical model is established based on Maxwell equations and plasma dynamic equations by coupling high-frequency electromagnetic waves to low-frequency waves via ponderomotive force. The primary PDI, cascade process, and strong Langmuir turbulence are excited in the simulation. The matching condition in the initial PDI stage and cascade process is verified. The result indicates that the cascade ion acoustic wave may induce or accelerate the formation of cavitons and lead to the wavenumber spectrum being more enhanced at 2<em>k</em>_<em>L</em>(where <em>k</em>_<em>L</em> is the primary Langmuir wavenumber). The wavenumber spectra develop from discrete to continuous spectra, which is attributed to the caviton collapse and strong Langmuir turbulence.