THE ROLE OF NATURAL E-REGION PLASMA TURBULENCE IN THE ENHANCED ABSORPTION OF HF RADIO-WAVES IN THE AURORAL IONOSPHERE - IMPLICATIONS FOR RFHEATING OF THE AURORAL ELECTROJET

Physical processes which affect the absorption of radio waves passing through the auroral E-region when Farley-Buneman irregularities are pr esent are examined. In particular, the question of whether or not it i s legitimate to include the anomalous wave-enhanced collision frequenc y, which has been used successfully to account for the heating effects of Farley-Buneman waves in the auroral E-region, in the usual express ion for the radio-wave absorption coefficient is addressed. Effects al so considered are those due to wave coupling between electromagnetic w aves and high-frequency electrostatic waves in the presence of Farley- Buneman irregularities. The implications for radio-wave heating of the auroral electrojet of these processes are also discussed. In particul ar, a new theoretical model for calculating the effects of high-power radio-wave heating on the electron temperature in an electrojet contai ning Farley-Buneman turbulence is presented.