Significance of VLF transmitter in the precipitation on inner belt electrons

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA086iA13p11225· OSTI ID:5233633

Imhof, W L; Anderson, R R; Reagan, J B; Gaines, E E

From the low-altitude satellite P78-1, narrow and sometimes multiple peaks have been observed in the energy spectra of electrons from 68 to 1120 keV precipitating in the drift loss cone from the inner radiation belt. Simultaneously, measurements of the plasma wave environment at higher altitudes on the same field lines have been made with the ISEE plasma wave experiment in many cases. The peaks in electron energy are sometimes extremely narrow, being of the order of 20-keV wide after the instrument resolution is unfolded. The plasma wave observations in these cases reveal the frequent presence of single and sometimes multiple monochromatic frequencies in the 10kHz to 25-kHz range that are attributed to ground-based VLF transmitters. The plasma wave experiment also provides electron plasma density profiles. The variations of the peak energies with L value and the nearly simultaneous and spatially coordinated narrow band wave frequencies strongly support the conclusion that the narrow peaks in the electron spectra result from cyclotron resonance interactions with the waves produced by ground-based VLF transmitters and that the effect of two or more transmitters are sometimes observed simultaneously.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, California 94304
• OSTI ID: 5233633
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 86:A13; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELECTRON SPECTRA
ENERGY TRANSPORT
FREQUENCY RANGE
KHZ RANGE
LOSS CONE
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATION BELTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPECTRA