Harmonic H sup + gyrofrequency structures in auroral hiss observed by high-altitude auroral sounding rockets

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA00563· OSTI ID:5222372

Kintner, P M; Vago, J ^[1]; Scales, W ^[2]; Yau, A; Whalen, B ^[3]; Arnoldy, R ^[4]; Moore, T ^[5]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
2. Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
3. National Research Council of Canada, Ottwawa, Ontario (Canada)
4. Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham (USA)
5. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL (USA)

Two recent sounding rocket experiments have yielded VLF wave data with spectral structures ordered by the hydrogen gyrofrequency. The spectral structures occur near and above the lower hybrid frequency in association with auroral hiss. These structures are observed within and near regions of auroral electron precipitation and transverse ion acceleration. They are accompanied by auroral hiss but are anticorrelated with spectral peaks at the lower hybrid frequency. They are typically found above 500 km altitude, have no measureable magnetic component, and are at least occasionally short wavelength (k{rho}{sub i}{ge}1). Because the spectral structures appear to be electrostatic, are ordered by the hydrogen gyrofrequency, and are short wavelength, the authors interpret the structures as modes which connect the lower hybrid mode with the hydrogen Bernstein modes. A study of the plasma wave mode structure in the vicinity of the lower hybrid frequency is presented to substantiate this interpretation. The results imply that these waves are a common feature of the auroral zone ionosphere above 500 km altitude and exist any time that auroral hiss exists. The absence of previous satellite abservations of this phenomenon can be explained by Doppler broadening.

• OSTI ID: 5222372
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 96:A6; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
ALTITUDE
AURORAL HISS
AURORAL ZONES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DATA
DOPPLER EFFECT
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
GYROFREQUENCY
INFORMATION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATIONS
ROCKETS