Abstract

Plasma–dust processes in the Earth’s ionosphere related to transit of meteor bodies and spreading of meteor trail are analyzed. Processes that occur in the meteor trail itself and those taking place in the Earth’s atmosphere upon transit of a meteor body, along with their influence on observers and operation of various technical systems, are investigated. In particular, mechanisms explaining acoustic phenomena accompanying meteor transit during meteor showers are proposed. The mechanism of formation of dusty plasma in meteoroid trails is described. It is demonstrated that charging of dust particles of the meteoroid material creates conditions for the appearance of dust acoustic waves. Dust acoustic perturbations are driven as a result of development of modulation instability of electromagnetic waves emitted by the meteor trail and have frequencies typical of dust sound (0.003–60 Hz). The reports of witnesses revealed that observers on the Earth can hear low-frequency sounds appearing during meteor showers. It is suggested that the sound reaches the Earth’s surface as a result of transfer of oscillations from dust particles to neutrals the concentration of which in the atmosphere is high. The mechanisms of fragmentation of meteor bodies and charging of formed dust particles are analyzed. Characteristic charges of dust fragments for nano- and micrometer-scale particles are estimated. Particles of different shape are considered. The growth rates that give rise to modulation excitation of low-frequency dust acoustic perturbations are calculated. Conditions leading to development of a modulation instability are found.

中文翻译：

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伴随流星雨的等离子粉尘过程

摘要

分析了地球电离层中与流星体的迁移和流星痕迹的传播有关的等离子体-尘埃过程。研究了在流星迹本身中发生的过程以及在流星体通过时在地球大气中发生的过程，以及它们对观测者的影响以及各种技术系统的运行。特别地，提出了解释在流星雨期间伴随流星迁移的声学现象的机制。描述了流星迹中尘土等离子体形成的机理。已经证明，流星体材料的尘埃粒子的带电为尘埃声波的出现创造了条件。尘埃声扰动是由于流星迹所发射的电磁波调制不稳定性的发展而引起的，其频率通常为尘埃声（0.003–60 Hz）。目击者的报告显示，地球上的观察者可以听到流星雨期间出现的低频声音。建议将声音从尘埃粒子转移到中性粒子，使其到达大气层，中性粒子在大气中的浓度很高。分析了流星体破碎和形成的尘粒带电的机理。估计了纳米级和微米级颗粒的粉尘碎片特征电荷。考虑不同形状的颗粒。计算引起低频粉尘声扰动调制激励的增长率。找到了导致调制不稳定性发展的条件。