Stochastic field theory for the ionospheric fluctuations in Equatorial Spread F

The expression of this realization probability is obtained in the mathematically tractable cases of noises with Gaussian or exponential distribution. Then, practical limits and possible developments of these achievements are discussed. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In order to construct an analytical model of evolution for the plasma structures in the ionospheric Equatorial Spread F, an attempt is presented to include the plasma perturbations "seeding" the instabilities that cause the Equatorial Spread F in a theoretically consistent way. This is done assuming that the local discrepancies from quasi neutrality and from zero ionization-loss-and-production to be noise terms in the ionospheric density balance equation: doing so, the balance equation becomes a stochastic equation. The program is then to obain the probability that a certain evolution of the ionospheric density takes place from the interplay between plasma dynamics and noise statistics, i.e. to produce a stochastic field theory for the ionospheric density.