The behavior of the ionosperic plasma of the high-latitude F2 region is investigated when it is in collective interaction with auroral electron beams. It is shown that the usual increase in plasma density from the electron beam formation region to the ionospheric F2 region maximum is the cause of the electron beam stabilization relative to the upper hybrid waves generation at the Cherenkov resonance. The collective dissipation of the beam energy at the Cherenkov resonance is possible only in the region of small plasma density gradients, which always takes place near the F2 region maximum. The auroral thermal wave is a region of high-frequency plasma turbulence traveling upward to meet the electron beam. The plasma wave dissipation due to large collision frequencies with ions and neutrals must result in anomalously large electron temperatures and their transverse gradients, repeatedly registered in auroral discrete arcs. The plasma wave conversion (E~0.5 V/m are measured) into electromagnetic waves at 2 fp in the auroral thermal wave and the plasma turbulence region upward motion must result in a fast decrease of the radiation frequency at 2 fp, what was also registered. Results of a numerical simulation of the auroral thermal wave are in good agreement with experiment. The influence of the ion inertia, the altitude of the F2 region maximum, plasma density, energy, density, and the degree of energy homogeneity of the auroral electron beam on the formation and development dynamics of the thermal wave are investigated. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union