Structure of Nonlinear Small-Scale Waves in the Plasma of the D Layer of the Ionosphere

Abstract

The conditions for the existence of spatially periodic flat nonlinear small-scale plasma and electric field structures with a characteristic size L on the order of several meters are found at altitudes of the D layer of the ionosphere. It is shown that for their description it is necessary to abandon the approximation of plasma quasineutrality, to take into account the presence of ions of both signs and electrons, the slow motion of these structures with respect to a neutral gas with the velocity $$U \ll {{V}_{ \pm }},$$ significantly lower than the ion drift velocity V±, and also take into account the difference in temperature of electrons and ions in the strong electric field. The structure of nonlinear waves in the plasma and its changes depending on the wave velocity U and other parameters of the plasma and geomagnetic field are calculated. The formation of such structures leads to the disruption of the radio communication and can be used as an ionospheric precursor of earthquakes.