Ionized Plasma and Neutral Gas Coupling in the Sun’s Chromosphere and Earth’s Ionosphere/Thermosphere

• Published in: Space science reviews Vol. 184; no. 1-4; pp. 107 - 172
• Main Authors: Leake, J. E., DeVore, C. R., Thayer, J. P., Burns, A. G., Crowley, G., Gilbert, H. R., Huba, J. D., Krall, J., Linton, M. G., Lukin, V. S., Wang, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Atmosphere; Atmospheres; Chromosphere; Communities; Descriptions; Earth ionosphere; Electromagnetics; Energy transfer; Ionosphere; Ions; Joining; Magnetic fields; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Plasma; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Sun; Thermosphere; Thermosphere; Chromosphere; Sun; Ionosphere
• ISSN: 0038-6308; 1572-9672
• DOI: 10.1007/s11214-014-0103-1

We review physical processes of ionized plasma and neutral gas coupling in the weakly ionized, stratified, electromagnetically-permeated regions of the Sun’s chromosphere and Earth’s ionosphere/thermosphere. Using representative models for each environment we derive fundamental descriptions of the coupling of the constituent parts to each other and to the electric and magnetic fields, and we examine the variation in magnetization of the components. Using these descriptions we compare related phenomena in the two environments, and discuss electric currents, energy transfer and dissipation. We present examples of physical processes that occur in both atmospheres, the descriptions of which have previously been conducted in contrasting paradigms, that serve as examples of how the chromospheric and ionospheric communities can further collaborate. We also suggest future collaborative studies that will help improve our understanding of these two different atmospheres, which while sharing many similarities, also exhibit large disparities in key quantities.