Plasma waves in the polar cusp: observations from Hawkeye 1. Progress report

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:5060365

Gurnett, D A; Frank, L A

In this paper we investigate the characteristics of plasma waves observed by the Hawkeye 1 spacecraft in the vicinity of the polar cusp. The primary types of plasma waves associated with the polar cusp are (1) a band of ULF-ELF magnetic noise extending from a few Hz to several hundred Hz, (2) a broad-band electrostatic emission extending from a few Hz to about 30 to 100 kHz, with maximum intensities at about 10 to 50 Hz, (3) electrostatic electron cyclotron waves near the electron gyrofrequency and (4) whistler-mode auroral hiss emissions. Of these various types of waves, only the ULF-ELF magnetic noise is uniquely associated with the cusp in the sense that the noise can be used as a reliable indicator of the polar cusp region. All of the other types of plasma waves occur in regions adjacent to the polar cusp as well as in the cusp itself.

• Research Organization: Iowa Univ., Iowa City (USA). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
• OSTI ID: 5060365
• Report Number(s): AD-045321
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACKGROUND NOISE
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
NOISE
PLASMA WAVES
POLAR REGIONS
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
WHISTLERS