Nonlinear stabilization of the E × B gradient drift instability in ionospheric plasma clouds

Abstract
We present a two‐dimensional nonlinear stabilization mechanism for the E × B instability occurring in striated F region ionospheric plasma clouds. A simple model shows that the saturated power spectrum for striations is proportional to k−2. Comparisons with experimental data from Stress barium cloud experiments sponsored by the Defense Nuclear Agency and the results of numerical simulations are given.