Polar Ionospheric E-Region Plasma Wave Stabilization and Electron Heating by Wave-Induced Enhancement of the Electron Collision Frequency

Comparative measurements indicate that the phase velocity of low frequency waves in the ionospheric E-region is often lower than the drift speed of the electrons that drive the waves unstable. In order to understand these results, the linear instability theory is modified to conform with zero growth rate even above threshold. The result is that the waves travel at the ion-acoustic velocity with an amplitude stabilized at the observed level, and also that the electron gas is substantially heated by the wave.