Simulations of Kelvin–Helmholtz modes in the dusty plasma environment of noctilucent clouds

Abstract

AbstractWe present results of quantitative multi-fluid simulations of the nonlinear dynamics of Kelvin–Helmholtz modes in the partially ionized dusty plasma of noctilucent clouds. Noctilucent clouds are a typical example of dusty plasmas in the Earth's mesosphere/lower thermosphere. A specific feature observed in noctilucent clouds is wavy, turbulent structure. Possible explanations for these structures, which are discussed in the literature, are based on hydrodynamical models. The dusty plasma aspect has been widely neglected, so far. In this paper we examine the nonlinear dynamics of Kelvin–Helmholtz modes in noctilucent clouds from the viewpoint of dusty plasma dynamics. The corresponding results are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with observations.