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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2007

HEINZ M. WIECHEN
HEINZ M. WIECHEN*
Affiliation:
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
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Abstract

We 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.

Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 73 , Issue 5 , October 2007 , pp. 649 - 658
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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